Hard To Believe Another Year's Gone By

Today our Blueberry Girl turns nine years old.  I remember seeing her turn two.  Where does the time go?

I'm not lucky enough to have pictures of Blue as a puppy.  I can well imagine that she was a beautiful little thing.  When she came here at two years old, she was a wild child, just unbelievably full of herself and knowing that she was pretty enough to get away with just about anything.  She's still pretty enough to get away with just about anything.  I can distinctly remember sitting down with her on her third birthday and telling her that now she was a big girl and needed to start behaving like a young lady.  She blew a raspberry at me and went on her merry way.  Her fourth and fifth birthdays passed in much the same manner. 

Honestly, I think Blueberry might have stayed a puppy forever, but one event seemed to change her overnight.  When Treat passed away, Blueberry realized that the role of Miss Perfect was open and that she wanted it. Suddenly, the spot on the other end of the couch was filled by Blueberry.  She spent a few minutes cuddling on the bed each night before hopping off to sleep in her favorite spot on the floor.  I think her heart still belonged to my husband, but she seemed to be more in tune with my need for canine companionship than Treat or Hawk had been. 

When we'd chosen a new hound for our pack, Treat had always been the one to help us choose.  After losing her, we took Blueberry with us to the kennel when we went to look for a new hound.  She turned her nose up at every dog they brought in for us to meet.  I remember really starting to despair and to think that Blueberry was absolutely no help.  By the time the woman at the kennel offered to let us meet a new dog that they'd just gotten in, I felt half-hearted about it, but in Bunny walked and leaned right up against me, and Blueberry didn't hate her.  She didn't act thrilled with her, but her reaction to Bunny was by far the best of the day.  We still laugh about Blueberry chasing down the foolish male named Try who made the mistake of, ahem, getting fresh with her and teaching him a bit of a lesson.  I doubt he's looked a female in the eye since.

She seemed content after Bunny came home to let me cuddle with her and make that bond, while she went back to being Daddy's Girl.  Yet, she's still the one who will seek me out when I'm upset or having a bad day.  I've also noticed that since Morgan has joined our family that she's more actively seeking time with me.   While it's sometimes tough to juggle Blueberry and Bunny both together, I've come to really enjoy the time that I have with Blueberry.  She's grown from a dog who could launch herself off the floor from a sit and take the food right out of your mouth to one who always has her eye on you to see what your next move is going to be and if it includes her.  One of my deepest wishes and hopes is that she will be as long lived as her mother because every year with her gets a little sweeter.  She has done wonderfully since her surgery for the cancer and is dealing well with her broken toe.  These things are reminders to us to be thankful for every day that we have with our beautiful girl.  We have been blessed to share the journey with her!

Happy Birthday, Blueberry, and many happy returns!