Dear Gabby, happy birthday!

Dear Gabby,

Today, you are nine years old... Nine isn't a particularly exciting number, and I made that worse by counting wrong and telling everyone you were eight two years ago (oops), so it's almost like you haven't aged at all... Most women would appreciate that blunder.

Some of my favorite throw-backs... All from the same Mother's Day weekend in 2009!

 Somehow, it worked out that I had the day off today, and your friend Oliver is staying with us, so I took you both on a casual stroll down to the bay. But, as usual, "casual" is a laughable concept when you're involved, because you only have two speeds: wide open, or asleep. :-) So I watched you weave to the left and right of the path, stopping to pee about 12 times, pulling on your leash until you choked, and harassing strangers with your crazy energy (not to mention poor Oliver!). I am sorry I never took you to obedience class or helped you learn to walk correctly on a leash. Though, you don't seem to mind your own lack of etiquette. 

Our lives have changed so much in nine years... We became single (and that REALLY stuck! Lol), we graduated from THE Georgia Southern and The University of South Carolina, we started a career, then we started a NEW career, and we moved way too many times to count. I get to say "we" because you were there through all of it. Granted, you may have had no choice in the matter, but I'd like to think, by way of your affection, that you'd have chosen to stick with me anyway. 

Your personality hasn't changed much over the years. You're very anxious; and I owe you an apology for laughing out loud when the vet said he thought you were Obsessive Compulsive... But COME ON! What are the chances that I would end up with an OCD dog? You never grew out of your hatred and fear of car rides, which is tragic since you've probably spent half your life in a car. I've never had a wreck with you in the car... So what's the deal with that? You sleep more now than you used to. I don't think my sedentary lifestyle has been a good influence on you. I often compare you to a cat, but you know I don't mean that. I don't worry much because the vet makes comments like, "She's gonna live a looooong time!" when he sees you spazzing out in his office... That makes me confident that your energy levels far exceed the average "senior dog". 

Last night, I was watching a reality tv show, and in that particular episode, the featured family had to put down one of their dogs. I sobbed, obviously. And you ran over to put your front paws on my chair and tilt you head in that way that says, "How can you cry when I'm so cute?" Little do you know, that's WHY I was crying at that particular moment. It's not always convenient to have you around (any parent that says otherwise is lying), but geez, the thought of living without you is heart wrenching. So do me a favor, and just go ahead and live forever, mmkay?

Now, I'm thinking you need a birthday treat. So I'm gonna get dressed, pack you in the car you despise, take you to Petsmart, where you'll be super nervous, and pick out a treat that you'll lick twice and walk away from. I think Oliver will enjoy this birthday more than you will. But I also think you'll forgive me.