Memories of Yesteryear: Happy Huskies Feeling Carefree on a FiveSibes Flashback Friday

Woo is right! So happy it is Friday! We apologize for our brief absence as this past week was indeed an emotionally heavy one of sorting through stored boxes of my mother's and my husband's father's things, both of whom passed away recently - my mom two years ago and my father-in-law just this past October (and today would have been his 90th birthday). For me, it was impossible to go through my mother's things before now. She was my first and lifelong best friend, an amazing mother and grandmother to my daughter, my confidante, my support system, my cheerleader, and my therapist. Accepting she is physically gone, has been, well, too painful. Now, however, it is starting to become a familiar warm feeling to see her handwriting, and even that of my father (who has been passed 44 years now) on cards, letters, and photos that were saved amongst her personal items. I let the familiar scripts and memories of my younger days wash over me, and instead of feeling the pain of loss, I tried to focus on all the amazing and happy memories that made up my early childhood. Many of which in my early years consisted of visiting the seashore every weekend over the summer during school break with my mother, maternal grandmother, cousins, and aunt. 

Looking at the old photos does not sadden me now, but rather fills me with a warm contentment--to know that I was fortunate enough to have those wonderful, loving times. Now, trying not to be sad, well, that is not an easy task. However, trying hard to shift out of sadness, I am left with feeling a bit closer to my family I have now lost to time, and try to embrace all of it into my present and future. But boy, I sure do miss those carefree days of childhood when loss was only something we related to missing toys. 

That innocence of youth...the same as my fun and carefree FiveSibes Flashback Friday photos to many years ago, when my Huskies ran wildly and carefree to their heart's content on the big side of our yard. I can remember so clearly opening our deck gate and the Fab Five all charging down the stairs in a single file, hitting the grass at a full run, as they dispersed across the yard, hopping over each other and running with the wind in their fur--always together--one pack of Huskies moving as a whole. As when I was a child and fondly recall those visits to the beach, I also remember a special visit with my boy, Wolf, to our local beach. I recall the thrill and nervousness of his careful dipping of his paws into the water for the first time and how he hesitated at the waves coming up on the shore, flowing cool water over his paws! 

Wolf's first visit to the beach.

All these carefree times were so beautiful to watch and equally beautiful to recall. I have to sigh as how the scene so quickly changes in the lifespan of a dog. Gibson has now moved on to the Rainbow Bridge. Our Harley is now our "golden" deaf alpha queen at age 13, and the "Pupsters" are newbie seniors at age 10. The wild carefree young days of running has now quieted down to periodic bursts of Husky play intertwined with spurts of energetic yard exploration, but mainly are now spent in hours of posing and snoozing on their deck beds. I just learned today that a friend's "pup" who was in the vet hospital at the same time as our Pupsters for spaying/neutering back when they all were truly puppies, has just passed from the same type of cancer that stole Gibson from us. We all paused to realize that the very short span of a beloved pet is a decade of our own lives. All we can do is embrace the moments that make up the memories, and enjoy each one as it happens, while hoping for many more to come.

The following is a poem I wrote many years ago that was a favorite of my grandmother's. I thought it was a perfect time to share an excerpt from it here for our memories of yesteryear are all about family, including our beloved pets. I hope you enjoy it!

"Memories of Yesteryear"

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery

"Memories of yesteryear

Come flooding back to me.

Of teddy bears and dancing dolls

And dreams of what to be.

Weekends spent on the boardwalk

At all of our favorite beaches,

Taking chances on all of those games

While enjoying fresh drinks and peaches...

Those were the days of carefree times

When we weren't afraid to have fun.

Now those days have long since passed

And our visits to the boardwalk are none.

But the joy and love will always be felt

In those memories we hold dear,

Because those were the times we spent together

In our days of yesteryear."

You're Invited!

Do you have some photos that "flashback" to an earlier time in your pet's life--from a day ago? A year ago? A decade ago? Decades ago? Maybe a photo from when you dog was a puppy, or you cat was adopted? Maybe your horse or bird or bunny captured on film in a precious moment for you? Then this is the Blog Hop to join! We are open for the week, so if you get busy, as we know life happens, you have all week to link up and share your photos and posts from Memory Lane! So, come join us in a fun and special way to end the week and kick off the weekend!

And join us!

We are also joining our blogger friends in the Pet Parade! Hop over and check out the hosts' blogs, too, at: Rascal & Rocco, , Bionic Basil, and Barking from the Bayou!

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