Pick up something long overdue

Now that Lana's heat is over and Skipper is no longer controlled by his hormones, I can finally take some time for myself. The period when I had to have eyes in the back of my head is over again. Such a period demands quite a bit, and being focused and alert 24 hours a day for three weeks consumes energy. Now that I'm back to myself, I can refuel energy and pick up the things that have been left behind. And a gigantic job had been waiting for me for a long time. A while ago, I already knew that a few of my external hard drives would need to be replaced soon. To prevent them from malfunctioning before I could save my memories, I ordered a few new external hard drives. But if you're going to transfer all your photos anyway, then it's also THE time to sort everything out. And that means for me that I can start sorting through more than ten years of photo memories.

As you can imagine, this is a huge job and certainly not one I was looking forward to getting into. My god, I don't know how many photos I keep on those drives, but it's a lot. And it's not just a lot of pictures; it's just all memories. Memories of days gone by. So you get the idea scrolling through the photos brought back countless emotional memories. Memories of the assignments I did when I was still traveling through the Netherlands as a dog photographer. I'm not going to write about that here; I'm not posting pictures of that. But of the fond memories of the dogs that played such an important role in my life. The darlings who have given me unconditional love and filled every day with joy.

• Micky, the dog who shared my fears:

Micky, my sister's four-legged friend, was always by my side during one of the most challenging times in our lives. When we knew we would lose our parents, Micky was there for us. He shared our fears, and in him, we sought and found comfort. While he wasn't technically my dog, he felt like an important part of my life. His presence brought light to the darkest of times, and his joyful nature made me smile even when my heart was heavy. Many footsteps have been made by Micky and me together on our daily walks, and many concerns have been shared with Micky. But also many joyful moments. Micky was to my sister what Rowan was to me. Micky was her psychologist, her best friend, her doctor, her soulmate!

• Rowan, my beautiful white German Shepherd:

Rowan was much more than just a dog to me. He was my soul mate, my faithful companion who stood by me through thick and thin. Every day he brought an abundance of joy and unconditional love into my life. Seeing his photos brought a wave of nostalgia, remembering every adventure and happy memory with him. His playful nature, his protective instincts, and his indelible presence in my life are still missed.

• Gentle, a small dog with a significant character:

Gentle was a beautiful little dog who stole my heart with her adorable looks and lively personality. Despite her small stature, she exuded confidence and strength. She was a source of joy. But Gentle has also crossed the rainbow bridge. And her memory also lives on in my heart, and I am grateful for the time I spent with her, but even more grateful for everything she was able to do for my sister. In many ways, Gentle has been as little guardian angel as Micky was. It was Gentle who helped my sister accept that she couldn't keep Myla. It was through Gentle that my sister learned to accept that she had to accept her chronic complaints but that this didn't mean she couldn't do anything anymore. It was Gentle who showed my sister that you can still fully participate in life, even with pain. It was Gentle who took away the sharpest pain from my sister when Micky had to cross the rainbow bridge.

• Myla, the only surviving member of the quartet:

Of the merry quartet that has enriched my life for so long, Myla is the only one still with me. As I looked at her photos, I realized how quickly time has passed and how she has changed. She's not the bright red rascal she used to be. She no longer runs fast to get the ball. She no longer dislocates my shoulder while walking. And she can no longer walk for hours. She is old now, and her energy has diminished, but her love and loyalty have only increased. And my love for her has only grown. Her presence reminds me that life is fleeting and that each day should be cherished with our loved ones. Be it people or animals, cherish the days, and make and capture those memories!

• A digital journey through emotions

Sorting through photos of my dogs brought both a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. The images brought back so many and such vivid memories of the happy times with all the adventures we've had. And I felt from the pictures the unconditional love we shared. But it also brought back the very hard realization that these times are over and that the dogs are no longer with me. And Myla, who is still with me, has changed over time; seeing all the memories of the other three makes me realize that Myla's clock is also ticking mercilessly. It's an emotional experience that reminds me how important it is to enjoy every moment and appreciate every day we have together.

All photos are tangible reminders of the moments we consider important. And sorting and sorting through all those photos threw me back to the past. It made me relive all my memories and brought back hidden emotions. Sorting out photos made me realize again how valuable photos are. They are just a moment caught in time, but they are also a tribute to the love and bond we shared, and I will cherish them forever.

This was just the beginning of my journey through my memories; I am sure there are many more to come. But now it's time for me to climb out of my memories again, shake off the nostalgia, and come back to the present.

Time to start making new memories with the dogs that are with me now…