week four

Today marks four weeks since Lulu left. I am amazed at how quickly time is marching forward and how much I want time to reverse... back to the days of...

• Lulu waking me up at 3:30 AM to go to the bathroom
• going on our runs
• putting herself to bed but coming out to check on me, asking me but more often than not demanding I come to bed too
• tossing her stuffed animals down the cement floor so she could run and slide to fetch them; she loved sliding across the floor
• bringing home restaurant treats such as french fries, tortilla chips, and rice that I would order specifically for Lulu
• tucking her into bed each night
• reassuring her I will be home by 5 PM
• our daily hug-a-hound moments
• watching her frolic in the yard
• seeing the wonder in her eyes
• feeling her deep love for me oozing out of her every pore

During our last months together, Lulu and I would watch the Friday night webcasts of Oprah's LifeClass. On Fridays, the topic was always "Joy Rising". It should not come as a surprise that Lulu was my joy rising. Knowing that, this week is going to be especially difficult because not only is it a month since my Lu left, Thursday is her 10th birthday.