2008 was quite a year. I never thought a year could take me from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows like 1995 did, but it did.
January started off with a new adventure. I began volunteering with a greyhound adoption group (
Greythounds of Eastern Michigan) and fell in more in love with those beautiful creatures than I ever thought possible. In one way or another, I will always have greyhounds in my life.
I was also waiting to hear about acceptance to PA school. I didnt get in, but everything happens for a reason, right?! I was disappointed, but took it as a sign that that wasnt where I was supposed to be.
February brought another amazing experience. I was asked to go on a GUR (Greyhound Underground Railroad) trip out to Kenosha, WI to pick up our newest load of retirees. Little did I know what I was getting in to. Friday night we went to see the races at Dairyland...what a sight. A greyhound running at full speed is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! The next morning we woke early to head to the kennels to meet the new kids. 5 beautiful hounds...Midwest Mezanine (Mezzie), Foxy Foxy (Foxy), Kvasha (Mr. Kirby), Red Russian (Pedro) and Magic Money Man (Peanut) were now GEMs. Mezzie stole my heart from the minute we got her out of the kennel. After a long, treacherous trip back from Wisconsin the kids met their new foster families. In the end, Anne and Ben ended up fostering Mezzie (which I was pretty excited about). About a week later, my parents decided that we could adopt a greyhound, as long as my dads allergies didnt act up too badly. Our application for Mezzie ended up being denied, but out of that bad situation came a silver lining...I became friends with Robin and Laze, we watched Prince for a week while they were in Sandy Paws and Anne and Ben adopted Mezz.
The spring came and went. I ended up staying at Robin and Lazes with their dogs when they traveled, I started traveling with the GEM store to smaller events, and enjoyed spending time with my grandma and cousins while I looked for a job.
This July marked a huge event for our family. Mo and Jim got married July 5, 2008 at Central Methodist Church in Detroit, 12.5 years after Bob was killed. It was a day of celebrations (starting with taking our family picture - a 50th anniversary present for my grandparents) followed by the ceremony and a party at Chelis Chili. Our whole family was together for the first time in over 4 years, since before Patty, Mike and the girls moved to Switzerland.
July also marked my return to working in a chem lab. I started July 14 at Exatec in Wixom. I had missed being in the lab and was excited to get back to my chemistry roots. It has definitely been 6 months of highs and lows and frustrations, but my co-workers keep me on my toes and make every day interesting and I have learned a great deal about a technology I never knew existed.
Summer turned to Fall and life seemed to be going pretty well. I was still traveling with the GEM store, have a FABULOUS time with Anne and Hilde (and sometimes Merrie, Robin and Laze joined in the fun).
But as most things go, a good thing cant last. In mid-October, the Tuesday before we were getting ready to celebrate Nick's, Claire's and grandpa's birthday, my grandma had a stroke. Initial reports were that it was mild, just slightly slured speech. She was even throwing bed pans at the nurses, upset that she was in the hospital. With a little therapy, she would be back to normal. That night she took a turn for the worse. The stroke progressed and now her slurred speech was more pronounced, she had paralysis on her right side, and the doctors saw problems with her heart. She had a heart catherization, which showed about 20% heart function. The doctors were amazed that she was still functioning, let alone at the level she was. Through it all, however, the doctors were optimistic. They said with some rehab, she would be able to go home and live a semi-normal life. Once again our family went home that night with hope. The plan was for her to leave the hospital that weekend for a in-patient rehab, but when my dad and his siblings arrived at the hospital Thursday morning, my grandma told them that she didnt want any more medical treatment and she wanted to go home. Needless to say, we were all shocked. This was a woman who had a major heart attack and a triple bypass 23 years ago, survived breast cancer and lived with congestive heart failure. We never thought she would survive the heart attack, but she did. We never thought she would beat cancer, but she fought it and came back stronger than ever. Her bout of congestive heart failure came while she was at water aerobics. She was feeling better than she had in years in the weeks and months before her stroke, so when so told us she wanted to go home, we couldnt grasp it. Once again we busied ourselves making the arrangements for her to go home...hospice, a hospital bed, an oxygen machine, everything she would need. We again went to bed with a little hope...maybe being home would help her gain a little strength. That night, however, we realized what she meant by going home. She was ready to go home to God, to be with Phyllis and Al, her parents, Bob and her son, Michael. She was ready to not be in pain anymore.
Even though it was hard to be away from home (I was dogsitting that week), I am so thankful that Hefty and Prince were there. Prince always sleeps with me when Im there, but usually not right next to me. However, every night that week I woke up sandwiched between the two of them, as if they were trying to protect me and take the pain on themselves. They let me cry and be upset, but loved me just the same. I left them alone for long periods of time every day that week, but they still protected me every night. It was that week that I learned what was truly so wonderful about greyhounds...no matter what you do, say or feel they love you unconditionally.
I still miss my grandma more than words can say. She was so much more than my grandma, she was my best friend, the one person I could count on to always be there, and my rock.
This fall was also hard for my GEM family. In August Anne and Ben learned that Coy had osteosarcoma, bone cancer. He was an energetic 8 year old who still had so much more life in him. They had to let him go to the bridge in September. I still expect to see his smiling face and gentle eyes every time I go over there.
Then the week after I lost my grandma, Robin and Laze found out that Gus also had osteo. He went to the bridge less than a week after he was diagnosed. Gus only stayed home while they were traveling twice, but he was always a joy to have around. His silly, goofy grins never failed to make me smile. He would always greet me at the gate, sandwiched between Prince and Duke (the two black boys) when ever I came over. I look for him every time I walk into the house.
The rest of the year came and went. Thanksgiving was full of food and family. Christmas was strange, there was a void where my grandma should have been.
2008 has been one hell of a year. I dont know what I would have done with out my family and my friends who became family. They gave me a shoulder to lean on when I couldnt stand on my own and Im not sure what I would have done without them.
Heres hoping for a happy, healthy 2009...
