I received such an amazing gift and tribute to Rita from a friend – a necklace – made from the photo of the Stronger than Cancer 5K we did together in 2020. 

I took the arrival of this unique and special gift as a sign that I need to get back to doing things I did with Rita – things that I have stopped doing altogether due to the pain I have been experiencing with Sweet Reet’s absence.  Rita I did 5k’s together- that was our “thing.” We had so many great adventures while logging many miles to benefit less fortunate dogs. A few months before she passed our vet told me Rita had to retire from 5K’s. I bought Rita a stroller so that I could still do 5k’s with her, and I registered for the Flex it Pink “Run for the Rescues” 5k that benefited the Have a Heart Humane Society. Although Rita got to take a “maiden voyage” in her stroller, we never got to do the 5k before she gained her angel wings.

I haven’t walked hardly at all since Margarita crossed the rainbow bridge…but today I put on the necklace and got the courage to get back out and walk.

I took Lager with me – we completed the 5k – and although I cried often- I smiled a lot as well.

I stopped to let Lager cool off in the lake … and took a photo…if you look closely there’s a double rainbow going across Lager and orbs on the lake directly in front of him… I’m taking that as a sign Rita was right there with us on that 5k.

Although Lager has been on a couple of hikes in the past, this was his first official 5K.