Russell will be 10 years old this year and I gotta say, it’s making me feel all sorts of nostalgic and grateful. We went out for our morning walk today and I saw a not so nice dog trying to come say hi to Russ and instinctively my hand tightened on the leash to make an escape if needed. It got me thinking about how my one job above all else for all these years has been to protect him. My whole life revolves around keeping Russell happy and safe. What an honor it’s been and will continue to be.
I won’t make this the long post about Russell’s 10 year birthday because I’ll put some dedicated time and thought to that one. I’ll track down some Russell photos and pin stories from over the years that are highlight worthy to celebrate my guy. But in the meantime, I’ll say I walked with Russ this morning to the post office to grab my package. As soon as I got it from the front desk, he looked at me with an excited face and pulled me towards the door. He knew it was time to go back outside so he could explore. He’s excited to eat his same breakfast, go for the same walk or ride in the car as if it were for the first time. At night when I tell him it’s time for bed, he’ll go grab a toy of his choice (I’d love to know the criteria for what makes the cut) and he carries whomever he chooses into bed with him. He always drops the toy in front of the bed and jumps up. I lean down to grab his friend and put him under Russell’s head. After about 20 minutes or so, I’ll feel him take a big exhale and lay out fully while pressing into my legs.
I took him to the vet recently to have his shots and passport updated. He’ll be traveling to Austria in the fall. I can’t wait for him to see the mountains and countryside. He will be so happy to see his grandparents again. That thought alone makes me want to cry—actually I am crying as I write this so here we are.
My sweet Russell. The light of my life for a decade.
A quick note to say: Russell’s birthday is July 26 which falls on a Saturday this year. He will have a large birthday party at the park with an exclusive guest list. More details to follow.