My Bestest Travel Buddy
Yani girl…
The absolute sweetest pup, our adventures together were amazing!
This past week has proved to be a bit of a challenge to say the least. You see, my sweetest Yani girl aka Ladybird aka Yani Bonni and Yanz took her last breath just shy of her 15th’ish birthday. She actually may have been slightly older by a year or so but I digress. For those who know me well, you all know the special place this pup of mine has had in my life. We actually met way back in 2008 when I returned home to Texas for a visit. It was then that I decided to road trip her all the way up the east coast to Maryland with me from the great state. We’ve sort of been inseparable since then —minus a small stint living abroad where she stayed with Mom back home.
Yani’s history includes being well travelled as we explored areas of the states together and eventually even journeyed across the pond to the UK where we lived together a few years. Frolicking fields, walking the beach and seeing the ocean, plane rides, smelling the roses (literally) as well as the beautiful spring daffodils, chasing a little rabbit —or squirrel— across swampy waters to then realize it was swampy water and looking puzzled as to what to do next as I ruined a good pair of sneaks to retrieve this muddy but cute pup of mine… trail walks exploring the Dales, Christmas in Cornwall, road trips galore, cuddles during crazy thunderstorms, walking streets of places like NYC, London and Edinburgh, adapting to walks in the rain, farm life befriending our animal neighbors, experiencing snow and also enjoying cozy days next to the fireplace, hiking around the mountain state of Colorado, meeting new pup friends and people along the way… really the list goes on. Even with this relatively small list I realize spanning across the years, we picked up Bailey boy along the way and have lived a pretty good life together.
Reflecting back on what I’ve learned from her existence in my life, it would include things like patience, loyalty, discipline, happiness, exploring nature, enjoying a good rest day, and a great amount of support. I mean Yani has been around throughout all the various stages of my adult life really. Her playful nudges, curiosity, sense of time acting as my alarm clock at times, ability to cheer me up/make me smile/ laugh and even protect me from the mystery person on the other side of the front door every time the doorbell sounded or those crazy flies that manage to get in the house but not quite know how to get out. Her overall active way of being was just precious.
While I’m sad of the reality, I know it was her time and she was surrounded by love all the way to the end. The absolute sweetest pup, she has been a highlight to many stories and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to adopt her. Our bond and adventures together were nothing short of amazing!
