It snowed about two weeks ago, and as much as everyone was displeased to see it, there were a few people who said to me, “Daphne would be so happy right now.” They were right, she absolutely would have been.

It’s been six months since I had to say goodbye to my old girl, and I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t miss her terribly, especially now that the weather is getting colder and her outside air conditioning has been turned on, and that what would’ve been her 14th birthday is at the end of this month.

It took quite a while for me to adjust to her not being around anymore; my whole morning routine changed so much. Every morning I’d have to go directly to the laundry room where she and Campbell slept and let her out before she pooped on the floor. I’d have to let her out the side door and open the back gate because she had a hard time with stairs. Then when she was done I had to go let her back in and carry her upstairs so she could eat and be with the rest of the family. (She let it be known to ALL that she was NOT PLEASED with being downstairs by herself, haha.)

Isla and Norah have adjusted okay. Isla gets down about Daphne not being around anymore, but I gave her a stuffed animal that looks like Daphne, blue eyes and all, and she takes comfort in remembering her that way.

Campbell has definitely changed somewhat. He barks more at the neighbour’s dogs, and I can’t help but think that it’s because Daphne isn’t here anymore to tell him to calm the hell down.

Alaskan Malamutes will forever hold a special place in my heart, but I don’t know if I could ever own one again. Daphne had such a unique personality, I don’t think it could ever be found in another dog. She was in a league of her own.

I suppose I never did mention that I chose to have her ashes returned to me, although I honesty have no idea what I’m going to do with them. I had originally thought of simply burying them in “her” spot in the yard when the snow first fell, but if we were to ever move it would feel awful leaving her behind. She moved all over the place with me, and it just didn’t feel right. Now she’s just sitting in the closet, one of her favourite spots when she was still alive.

I’m so glad that we have Campbell, because I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have a dog in my life. He’s definitely helped fill a void in my heart that Daphne left behind.

I never thought a dog could leave such an impression on my life, but I’m so thankful that she did.

Love you forever, Dapheroo.