I like this picture because Sasha looks like she is about to blow a whistle and make us all start hiking again. And because you can see me anxiously watching while Evangeline tests her blood.
Oh, screw it. I can't finish recreating my Memorial Day Weekend. At this rate it will be the 4th of goddamned July before I get to the wrap-up. Here's the condensed version: The day after our fab bike ride, we drove to Antietam with our girls (and their boys) and went on a 5 mile hike. It was special because, well, mostly because we got to spend hours with our kids. And they invited us. It was THEIR idea. They don't seem to mind us too much, which is mystifying but quite acceptable.
And I like this picture because if you look really carefully at the forest of legs, you can see that Paul is the only one who has any brown in him. The rest of us are so white we glow. Also, notice that I am still hovering over Evangeline and holding her shoulders like she might fall down or something. No, seriously, she might. Oh, and yes, I always dress in all black when I am hiking in 90 degree weather.
Memorial Day weekend felt like the best weekend ever in my whole entire life. Probably because I just haven't done anything fun in a really long time. It's all been work and headaches and worries and eldercare and schlepping crap from here to here, and...CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!
Fucking A, I'm referencing commercials from the 1980s, much like my parents used to quote Burma Shave ads.
In other news...oh this sucks, really.
Remember awhile ago I took Rosie and April on a walk and made a HILARIOUS video about it (which has not gone viral--you people just disappoint the hell out of me). And I said I was taking her to the vet? And then I made a video of that? And then I was exhausted? Remember?
At first the vet thought she had cancer, but the blood work came back inconclusive and the needle aspiration of her enlarged lymph nodes came back with no evidence of cancer, so my vet decided it was an infection and put her on antibiotics.
Blah blah blah more boring details, now cut to the chase.
She DOES have cancer. Lymphoma, stage 5.
I am going to take her to the oncologist for the initial consultation, but I highly doubt we will treat her.
Poor little Rosie. Poor little waggy-tail, scruffy, in-love-with-everyone Rosie.
So sorry about Rosie.
Sweet pics with your family!
Posted by: maddy | June 09, 2011 at 06:35 AM
Poor Mary and the family but Rosie doesn't understand and knows she's loved and I know that you won't let her suffer. So, at the risk of sounding crass, and you know that's the last thing I mean to be, lucky Rosie cos she's had a great life and it will end peacefully and pain free.
But I know your heart will bleed and mine goes out to you.
Life sucks sometimes. And this is one of them.
Posted by: Cazza | June 09, 2011 at 06:37 AM
God, that's awful news, Mary. I'm so sorry. I just love little Rosie, who's given her kisses so freely whenever I've visited. And with April's advanced age . . . an incredibly tough summer ahead for you guys. Gotta go. Crying.
Posted by: Anne | June 09, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Oh, I am so very very sorry to hear about Rosie. I hope that she remains ignorant of her health problems for as long as possible, so that you guys can really enjoy the time that she has left.
Posted by: Dawn | June 09, 2011 at 06:52 AM
oh, MARY, take your hands off Evangeline for a minute and hug Rosie.
I'm sorry. She's had a grand time on this earth, that Rosie.
xo
Posted by: blackbird | June 09, 2011 at 07:15 AM
(1) What wonderful photos, and (2) that is very sad about poor Rosie.
Posted by: Swistle | June 09, 2011 at 08:58 AM
I love Rosie.
Posted by: FC | June 09, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Such great photos and such bad news. Just enjoy the time you have. More warm burger.
Posted by: the bee | June 09, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Oh I just love that little dog. She is indeed a lucky girl and has had a great life. I'm so sorry.
Posted by: Fay | June 09, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Sorry about your Rosie. Love the group picture on the bench.
Posted by: Sue | June 09, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I'm so sorry about Rosie. She is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever been around.
Posted by: Susie Sunshine | June 09, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Wah.
Posted by: Heidi | June 09, 2011 at 11:37 AM
I'm just going to add this news onto the pile of other shit suck news for today and have a good cry.
Posted by: Stokesia | June 09, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Well I just burst into tears.
I am so sorry about that great, sweet dog.
Completely not fair.
Posted by: MsCellania | June 09, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Oh crap, I'm sorry. She looks like a lovely dog, and even is she were a vicious ankle-biter, she'd still be yours and you'd still love her. Puppy expiration dates are way too short.
Posted by: liz michalski | June 09, 2011 at 05:07 PM
Damn bad news and sucky cancer, I'm so sick of it!! Thinking of you.:( The hike sounds great,but not the hot weather. It's been pleasant here, high 60s low 70s. Not complaining.
Posted by: Margaret | June 09, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Life. Good times with the kids, but sucky choices ahead about Rosie. So very sorry.
Posted by: Cathy S. | June 09, 2011 at 09:03 PM
I'm so sorry about Rosie.
Posted by: Dawn R | June 09, 2011 at 09:47 PM
well that is a sucky diagnosis for anyone... give her a hug and feed her lots of her favorite foods and spoil her a bit more than usual.
Posted by: kris (lower case) | June 09, 2011 at 11:09 PM
About the Calgon thing? My 38 yr. old daughter texts that to me when the classroom issues in 4th grade are just unbearable. (oh, she's not IN 4th grade, she's the TEACHER!)
Rosie, my heart hurts for you and your family tonight. You should know that if I believed in heaven I would believe that dogs could go there too. In fact, more dogs would be there than people, shweetheart. Cyber-hug, and a lump in my throat.
Posted by: Karenth | June 09, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Shit. As my recently defunct friend said when she got a similar diagnosis, "Major bummer." I could look around for one of those smarmy God Takes Only the Best Dogs poems for you but that wouldn't help. I do love Rosie and this is bad news, countered only by the fact that she has had such a great life with you, loving and being loved and also that she will remain clueless about her imminent demise until the end. We're also not treating Cloudy for his problem which will kill him- we're just enjoying our time with him and vice versa.
In other news- you look fantastically healthy and happy, getting out and about in nature. I love that.
Posted by: Vicki | June 10, 2011 at 08:47 AM
It is just the BEST feeling when your kids invite you into their lives! I don't often take credit for my kids achievements and I know you don't either. However, this stuff doesn't happen without Supah! good parenting! High five on that, Sistah!
Posted by: Karenth | June 10, 2011 at 09:20 AM
Ah crap. I hate it when one of my animals gets a bad diagnosis. We lost our dog and two cats within months of each other a few years ago and that moment of crap diagnosis never got any better. So sorry.
Posted by: LMR | June 10, 2011 at 12:49 PM
I am so sorry to hear this news about Miss Rosie, she seems like such a sweet little thing.
Posted by: Maureen | June 10, 2011 at 01:21 PM