Amy’s Journal

Me and Stormy resting in the meadow in Yosemite.

Many of you may already know this, but I figured that since Stormy has been part of the heart and soul of Amy’s kitchen and still frolics happily all over the lemonslice, that I should write a post telling everyone that Stormy passed away in January of this year. I know that was a few months ago, but I am just now reaching the point where I can write about her. I’m going to keep this somewhat brief, but I would like to share a little bit about her passing.

For those of you who don’t know how Stormy and I met and became best friends forever, please read our story on the lemonslice.

In July, at the age of 12, Stormy was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the blood that is pretty common in dogs. The vet gave her about two months after she was diagnosed in July, but she made it until the New Year with her vigorous will to live. Those last 6 months with Stormy were some of the most precious and beautiful moments with her that my family has had. Stormy had always been wise, regal, loving, and affectionate. However, she bestowed her affection only when she truly wanted to. She loved us, but would only slobber on us on two occasions–one was “morning snuggles” when we would all wake up and snuggle together on the bed, and the other was when we came home from anywhere, even if we had only been gone an hour

In those last few months, she became more gently affectionate with us all the time, surprising us with a single lick at a time of day that would have been far beneath her before. She snuggled with us at any time of day or night, lying gently by my side on the bed instead of escaping to the foot of the bed like she used to where my tossing and turning would not bother her. She never seemed to be doing this out of need, however, or comfort. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She seemed to be able to tell that that WE were the ones who needed comforting, so she would let us know that she loved us and that everything was going to be ok. In the last few weeks, she would lay out on the lawn and watch the birds, which she had always loved to do. The birds were coming closer than ever and stormy would wag her tail as they hopped around her. My mom, sensing that stormy was no threat to them, put seeds all around stormy, and all of the birds of the garden came hopping around her eating happily as she sniffed them and wagged, panting with glee.

I don’t entirely know how I feel about animal psychics, but I happened across a book by one when I was taking Stormy to the vet, and figured, why not, maybe I’ll find out something that Stormy wants in these last few months that she has with us. So I called her, and was told that Stormy wanted to go somewhere she had gone many times before–it was on a mountain, and there were lots of big trees, and a green meadow, and there was a small old house, and it smelled like squirrels. It was her favorite place, and she wanted to go there again. I instantly knew that the psychic was telling me that Stormy wanted to go to our ancient cabin in Yosemite, which we have taken her to every year and which is definitely her favorite place in the world. So I packed up my things and headed out with Stormy. She couldn’t go on long hikes like she used to, but she had never been so joyful romping after squirrels, endlessly sniffing the air, and laying in the cool meadow.

These are some of the photos from that trip, and the picture of Stormy and Me at the top of this post is from this trip as well.

Stormy and Me in the meadow

Me and Stormy looking out over the meadow

Happy Stormy in the grass!

Stormy passed away by natural causes during the night of the first week of January, surrounded by my mother and father. Her ashes are now scattered in the wild garden outside our house, her favorite place to dig. She had an amazing life, and touched us in so many ways. She will always be my first and best dog, that beloved childhood best friend that lives in so many of our hearts.