Last Monday, I was afraid Tuesday’s annual vet visit might be her last, but my brave little girl awoke that morning with joy in her heart and spunk to spare.

Yes, she stumbles. Yes, she is resisting her pill pockets after years without an issue, but today is not the day.

Oh and she’s almost completely blind, her selective hearing is now paired with old age hearing loss, and her hind end is weaker every day, but she popped wheelies and shouted for joy when I put on my leggings and running shoes this morning, and she has had plenty of energy to follow me around.

My sweet, timid, anxious girl was always brave and devoted enough to choose to be with me, so it’s honestly my pleasure to see her aged into a true Jack Russell Terrier with snappy independence. I love that she truly tries to bite me when she doesn’t want to wear a coat. I love that she took Lily’s Kong from her and then growled at Lily when Lily just looked at her!

Gretchen Greer has earned the right to be a cranky old woman. Yes, I miss her constant snuggles, but I love her resilience and determination to keep on keeping on ON her terms.

She still chooses to be near me. That’s my striped foot in the background; she’s camped out under my feet.

So yes, she’s declining. She’s having more bad days, and they seem worse than some of her previous bad days. But today is a good day too, and I want her to have all the good days she can in this no fear, zero anxiety place she’s finally found.

So yes, I’ll hide her pills in banana pudding or Mac and cheese and laugh about it. As long as she’s still enjoying life on her terms, I’ll go above and beyond for her.