Through the years
You’ve never let me down
You’ve turned my life around
The sweetest days I’ve found
I’ve found with you
Through the years
I’ve never been afraid
I’ve loved the life we’ve made
And I’m so glad I’ve stayed
Right here with you
Through the years ❤️

Through The Years – Kenny Rogers

(I dedicate this song to all my dogs because dogs give me the absolute best years and greatest love I can ever know 💕🐾)

Looking at this picture is bittersweet. ❤️

Many, many moons ago, I was the nanny for these two sweet golden loves. They were such perfect dogs. So sweet and gentle and loving. The one never barked a day in his life, and the other rarely barked.

I loved that family. It was a young mom and dad, two little boys, their two dogs, and their boys’ nanny who lived there most of the time, and her little girl. And then me, the dogs’ nanny. It was the warmest place you can imagine, walking into that house. They told me they considered me part of the family. I would leave there feeling so full.

I would walk in and the nanny would be cooking and singing to the boys, and her little girl would be playing. The dogs would be lounging around. Sometimes the mom and dad would be home, and sometimes one of the grandmas would be there. The little boys would throw their breakfast at me and giggle.

When the boys would cry, they would put their little arms up for me to pick them up and comfort them. It was so cute, they trusted me because I was always there.

I miss it ❤️

They were identical twin boys I knew since they were in their mommy’s tummy. I was there when they first came home out of the hospital. When they were 2 and 1/2 years old, one of them was standing in the living room as I was leaving. I waved goodbye to him and said “Bye baby,” and he waved back to me and said “Bye baby!” to me 🤣 That still makes me laugh!

One of my favorite memories is when the boy dog was sitting on his step with the mom as I was walking up to the house. There were a few humans walking by, and he ran to me as if no one else was there. Of everyone on the street, he chose me. I felt so loved. There is no feeling like being chosen by a dog. Another day, when the grandma was walking them, they nearly dragged her across the street when they saw me, to get to me.

Once, they saw me walking another dog, when their dad was walking them. They froze and looked so shocked 😂 The dad said they probably felt like they caught me cheating on them lol! I felt so sorry for them, but it was funny.

Then one day, they abruptly had to move, I don’t know why. They never said. They also wouldn’t tell me where they were moving. They just said “far far away,” when I asked. I could tell the mom and dad were unhappy. The nanny, her daughter, and me had to say goodbye.

Very suddenly, they were just packing up and leaving, and it wasn’t their choice. They did not keep in touch with me.

They just gave me a card with a few hundred dollar tip, telling me how much they appreciated me through the years and that they would never forget me.

Later, a neighbor of theirs told me there was a situation and “things got ugly fast,” and they had to flee and move in with a family member. I did not get much information out of him and was going to ask more questions when I saw him again later. Then that neighbor suddenly died. So I never got answers.

It was heavy grief, it felt like losing my whole family. I remember feeling dizzy with grief when they moved. Not getting to watch the boys grow up anymore was almost as painful as losing the dogs. I had to keep reminding myself that they weren’t my babies to lose.

Not seeing the mom and dad and nanny and daughter anymore was so sad.

That was many years ago now. I still think of them frequently.

Unfortunately, goldens don’t have a long lifespan, and they were already a few years old.

I cherish the memories and those years we had together. ❤️🐾

I’m lucky to have that experience.

I’m so glad I have this beautiful picture.

And the random (but kind of relevant) old song for this post…

Reminiscing – Little River Band

Hurry, don’t be late, I can hardly wait
I said to myself when we’re old
We’ll go dancing in the dark
Walking through the park and reminiscing

Xoxo Kim 💜🐾

P.s. editing this blog post after publishing to add this and test something.