If I may: A Tribute

I once heard Neil deGrasse Tyson say this about the lives of dogs, "If they only get one day for every week you're alive, they make every day count."

On July 31, 2024, Mishka passed away around 4:20 am. She was with us for only four years, a pandemic dog we believed would outlive the longevity of her sister, Wiki.

The day Kenneth and I picked up Mishka from her foster home near Sacramento, we considered many names for our second adoptee, jokingly calling out Ninja, JuJubee, Mishka, and even contemplating keeping her given name, Ginger. Unfortunately, her journey extended beyond that as she was passed around from foster to foster. Her tired little soul finally found a home with us.

Mishka chose her name, responding to it after we picked her up from her sweet foster, Sam. When Mishka arrived at our house, she was so polite that I thought something was wrong with her. I even found myself wishing for the days when my first beloved dog would chew up a new pair of shoes, sneak food from our plate, or have a potty accident—anything.

But no, Mishka was a perfect gentle lady. To my surprise, she didn't even smell like a dog. Huskies have a less oily coat, meaning they lack the usual doggy odor. It did, however, take about two years for her to fully trust us after being found on the streets and passed from one family to another.

It’s a unique bond I love experiencing with an animal that brings me closer to nature, one that I’ll treasure until I join the rest of my crew. I could go on about how beautiful, kind, and sweet she was, and how she gave kisses to everyone. We were so lucky to be loved by such a sweet creature.

But now I must make my days count and try to learn from my beloved.

I Love you my little babushka. <3

P.S. When she did show her true colors, oh boy, did they come out! Fig thief, dirt digger, food nabber, and, most affectionately of all, chatty Kathy!