Recently Nosey's vet had to switch her chemo medications from the tested & proven to other medications that did not have the same success rate.  The medication was supposed to cause lethargy and really get her down.  Lucky for us, however, we've seen the opposite effect.  Nosey has been energetic and playful almost like she was before she was first diagnosed with canine cancer - lymphosarcoma back in December 2006.

She had just turned 5 years old when she was diagnosed and we struggled to accept the fact that she might not live to see her 6th birthday.  Well another year has come and gone.  Nosey will be 7 years old on November 6th.  She has her last chemo treatment on Nov 25 and then begins the nail biting period of wondering how long her remission will last.
 
I suspect when she finally goes to puppy heaven a piece of our hearts will go with her.  She has taught us so much about life.  She finds a friend in every new person she meets.  She considers the vet tech someone to be greated with a smile and a wagging tail even though the tech sticks her with needles almost EVERY WEEK for the last 22 months.  (except for the short remission period we enjoyed in the winter of 2007)  Even when she's feeling poorly, she doesn't snap or bite those around her - she just lays down and takes a nap. 

I remember as a pup she was so very precocious.  We often found her crawling under or behind the couch (tight fit that is was as she got older) or even curled up inside the cat igloo.  She has always lived up to her name even from the first day we brought her home from the local Petsmart where we'd adopted her from Morgan County Humane Society.  I remember the day as if it were yesterday - Elvis laying in the shopping cart napping BUT Nosey living up to her name by hoisting her feet on the side of the shopping cart and looking out at all the new sights to see.

We didn't anticipate adopting on that particular day but as I look back on these last almost 7 years now, I have to say my only regret is that we didn't also adopt Elvis & Nosey's mom at the same time.  She must have been a great dog because she surely passed on some good genes to Elvis & Nosey.

When Nosey's time is come to go to puppy heaven, we will have to think of something very special to do to commemorate her life and the love she gave us.

Last week we took a short vacation to Hershey, Pennsylvania.  While there, we took a tour of "Chocolate World".  As you may guess, Hershey, PA is home to the famous Hershey's Chocolate Factory.  One interesting thing we learned is that the founder of Hershey's Chocolate was also a very generous person. 

With some of his fortune, he started a school for orphaned boys.  The school has grown and now includes disadvantaged youth - both girls and boys.  Most interesting to us was the fact that when Milton Hershey died, he left the vast wealth to the Hershey Foundation which is charged with keeping the school.  A portion of all sales from each Hershey candy we buy goes to fund the foundation's mission.  Children from any state in the United States may apply to attend the school.  For more information about the school and the vision Milton Hershey had for his chocolate empire profits, visit www.mhs-pa.org

So this year when you are trying to figure out which brand of candy to pass out to Trick or Treaters - please consider Hershey's candies.

Recently we had a death in the family that caused me to reflect on life and death.  Aunt Eleanor was 95 years old when she passed.  Now one would think that a death at that age would not be a big surprise but for us, it was a bit of a surprise only because Aunt Eleanor was one tough cookie.    She never seemed to think of herself as "too old".  Even when she caught pneumonia, we never once thought that she might not recover.  I've wondered since the funeral, if Eleanor had known her time was short, would she have had any regrets.  I hope not.  I think the last few years of her life she was content even though she still grieved the loss of our uncle who preceeded her in death.

Nosey's current health situation also has us looking at life, death and how to live each day to its fullest.  It has been 21 months now since Nosey was first diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma.  We've tried to spend as much time with her as possible and cherish the memories.  She has become a real "diva".  She "expects" to go with us whereever we go and seems crushed when left with the petsitter.  Knowing our time is short with her, however, will still not lessen the grief when she's gone.

It is sad enough to lose a loved one when you expect it.  I can only imagine how hard it would be to lose a loved one quite suddenly and have regrets that you didn't do something.  There is a song by Point of Grace that goes:

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want, but want what you have
And don't spend you life looking back

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth cause you can't get away
Oh no
Just face it and you'll be ok

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

Where ever you are and wherever you've been
Now is a time to begin

So give to the needy and Pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God and Make peace with yourself
Oh yeah
Cause in the end there's nobody else

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live

Because it's not who you knew and it's not what you did
It's how you Live