Things I Miss About the Dog
The click-clack sound of her footsteps as she walks from room to room.
Waking up and saying good morning to her, scratching her as she stretches and wakes up.
Waking up in general — getting my routine started, walking the dog, feeding the dog, etc.
Being stared at while eating.
Being stalked every time I'm in the kitchen.
The sound of her loudly lapping her water.
Her happy wiggles.
Watching her make her "rounds."
Greeting her when I came home, rubbing her belly.
When she would come out her room and just stare at me while I tried to figure out what she wanted. "What's wrong, Lola?! What's wrong?" And then seeing her blank, cute face staring back at me.
Having a routine. Waking up at a specific time to take out the dog. Feeding her at a specific time. Having to be home at a certain hour to walk the dog. Not traveling because I can't find or trust anyone to watch the dog. Just building and prioritizing my life around her. All of that is gone now.
An apartment full of dog beds, toys, bowls, fur, pet blankets.
Walking the dog on a nice day and having people stop me and ask, "Oh what kind of dog is that? How old is she?"
The "Lola voice." My husband and I have a joke that the dog is an uptight Christian conservative (since she was born in Texas), and so my husband does a Lola impression where he speaks in her voice and talks about how everything is sinful and not Christian. Obviously, since she's passed, those jokes have stopped. It's just so quiet now.
The sound of her breathing/snoring from under the bed.
Being woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of her loudly slurping her water.
Being followed around the house in the mornings because she wants to be taken out for a walk and I'm off schedule.
Having to "dog proof" the apartment before heading out. Closing doors to the bathroom, closing trash can lids, etc.
Never being alone.