12 Years Of Aeri

I’ve had Aeri for twelve years.
But honestly, she’s had me.

She’s had my whole heart, every version of me, every transition—gracefully, loyally, without question. From 22 to 34, through the chaos, heartbreak, growth, and healing… she’s been the one thing that’s always stayed.

She didn’t just stick beside me—she chose me.
And she’s never stopped choosing me.

These days, she’s choosing him too.
Her love for Taylor is something else entirely. She follows him from room to room like he hung the moon. And somehow, watching her bond with him made me love them both even more. It’s like she knows I’m finally safe.

But make no mistake—she’s still my girl.

She still insists on sitting next to me, always on the right side of the couch, politely staring if I’m on the wrong side—like, "Mom, how do I get over there?"
She still runs sideways when we get home, so excited it’s like her front and back legs are on different missions.
She backs her butt up for scritches, “revs her engine” on command, and does “nice to meet you” instead of “shake.”
She can high five like a pro, and she’ll always choose green beans and watermelon over boring old dog treats—but not spinach, that’s her siblings’ thing.

We call her Bear. Or Bear-Bears. Or squishy potato.
(Or Aries-as Taylor likes to call her.)
She answers to every nickname. And every feeling.

She was inseparable from her bunny brother Todd before he passed the day after our wedding. I could ask her, “Where’s your brother?” and she’d go find him—every time.

She is sassy and soulful. Fiercely loyal. Stubborn in all the right ways.
She’s intuitive, deeply emotional, and always knows when someone needs comfort.
She’s paddleboarded with me, run miles at my side, and always—always—claimed her spot next to me, no matter where we are.

She is more than a pet.
She is a witness to my life.

And today, we celebrate twelve sweet, sacred years.

Happy birthday, Bear.
I don't know who I'd be without you.

– Mom