When you have to say goodbye: Luna

These types of posts have been way too frequent in my life the past six months. Having an active hospice home for pets this would eventually have to happen but it does not make it any easier on my husband and I. Luna was the light of my life. I know that sounds corny on many levels but she was joy and love all the time regardless of what she was going through. Just last week (earlier) in the week I know she was not feeling well but she still gave me some kisses on my face (rare if you knew how she was selective in her direct affections). I knew I wanted and needed to write a love letter to this sweet dog at some point but it took me days to even think about what to write. Luna was with us for ten plus years... When we graduated college, bought our first home, got married, went on endless trips. She was not a normal Alaskan husky either. She rarely barked (unlike most huskies) at all mostly doing this cute howl/yodel only when really excited. We used to call her the color changing husky because when we adopted her she was white and got darker throughout her life. Ending up more a light brown with white coloring and black ticking. She was gorgeous with her sky blue eyes she reminded me of the glow of the moon. Hence the name Luna. Luna = Moon.

I thought the best way to really honor her and her memory is to share some of my favorite Luna stories with you. Sorry this will be a long read. I want to be able to come back and read this in the future when I think of her.

Porcupine Mountains

We went on a couple big hiking trips with Luna and one was here in MI. We bite off more than we could handle that is for sure. It was hot! Luna was the biggest trooper and I remember after hiking all day and almost dying of heat stroke Ryan waking her and I up and feeding us ice cream to make sure we were still alive.  The best part of the trip was when we tried canoeing with Luna. Bad idea people she kept running back and forth and trying to guzzle down water of the side of the boat. When we finally gave up and stopped at a small island she had a blast. Running all over the island and running through the water. I will always remember her light and happiness that day.




Luna and Ryan at Devils Lake.

We did good this day in MI!

Not as excited as me to be hiking.

Luna and her best hiking pal Porter in Highcliff State Park

Snow dog
Luna was a true snow lover. It did not matter how cold it was out she wanted to be out there. I swear to you when it was below freezing a lot last year I thought that people would call animal protection services or whatever on me because she just loved to lay out in the snow and sleep. She loved eating it too. Would run around just chopping down on chunks of snow as she walked. She could never get enough. Her favorite thing to do when it snowed was run away from Ryan. Mostly during snow storms. She would just POOF be gone. Many phone calls from concerned people who found her on her little "walks".  One snow storm she ran away from my dad when they were babysitting her and she turned up at the dog park. Everyone assumed she got "out" so they put her in the park. My parents found her at the dog park running all over having a blast. I like to joke that she took herself on a walk to the park. My poor dad!






Waiting for mom to walk faster.

The road is lame lets go in the woods!

 The Noodle
We often called Luna the noodle doodle or the doodle that was noodling. Luna passed away from a tumor that was internally bleeding (most likely cancer) but it was not her first tumor fight. She had a tumor a little over a year and a half ago that had to be removed. This caused her to sleep in the cutest noddle positions for a long time. Such a cute sleeping dog. Enjoy some fun noodling pictures.


Often when working from home I would find her like this.

So cute.

You just always wanted to pet her.

UGH-- love her little velvet ears and fluff tail.

Mud Puppy
I mean she was a husky after all. I love looking back on my pictures and videos of my white dog often neck deep in a mud puddle or eating everything in my garden. I once called the vet in a panic thinking she was going to die from eating my chive plants. I liked to lovely call her my little goat and have so many videos of catching her in action in my garden or digging holes and sleeping in them on the side of the house.

Often at the dog park she would lay in the creek after to cool down. She hated her tail getting wet though so she would hold it up.

Is there a mud puddle at the dog park? I will find it.

Dirty face. Digging?

For sure was digging in the garden. Dirt face.

I mean look at that sass and happiness!

Did you have fun Luna?

 I wanted to jot down some of my favorite memories here to share. She was just pure joy and love and I don't know if I will come across a dog like her again and that's okay. Being able to be a part of her life was an honor. She has earned those angel wings!

Until next time-- Be kind to yourselves
XoXo Emily