I'm back

Things have settled down a bit around the empty nest.  After dropping both boys off at school Engineering dad and I left on a vacation.  We figured we'd earned one after helping two kids navigate successfully through the school system.  We had a lovely week sailing.  Most nights we had anchorages to ourselves.  It was very relaxing.  

We came back to real life with a bang.  Our 11 year old Golden Retriever had started to fail this past summer.  When we picked him up it was clear he hadn't had a good week.  As it turned out he was just waiting for us.  He spent a few hours at home acting nearly his normal self and then he just lay down and didn't get up again.  We called the vet the next morning because it was clear that he was suffering and there was nothing we could do.  He was scheduled to come to our house at 11:00 a.m. to euthanize Zeus.  At 10:55 a.m. with both Engineering Dad and I by his side he lifted his head, looked at me, put his head in my hand and drew his last breath.  We knew this day would come but it didn't make it any less sad.  Rest in Peace Zeus.