The last five weeks we have spent almost every second with our loyal, cuddley, loud, incredibly sweet dog, Moby. She absolutely loves being in the car and therefore has enjoyed every bit of our road trip out west. But Twisp, Washington is Moby’s final destination for the year, so yesterday Wes and I had to say our goodbyes.

We didn’t have to look very hard for the perfect people/place for Moby to stay while we are gone, because Wes’ parents agreed to temporarily adopt Moby for the year. We actually had a phone conversation with Wes’ dad prior to getting Moby 3 years ago, where we asked him if they would take care of our dog if we were to ever move/travel oversees for an extended period of time. Yes, we have had dreams to go oversees for a long time! So when it came time to tell Wes’ parents about our travel plans and seriously ask them if Moby could live with them for the next year, we were pleased that they hadn’t changed their minds. Therefore, Moby will be living in Washington while we are gone. She will have a massive back yard (10 acres), endless little critters to chase, two other doggy friends and crazy places to explore. She may never want to come home.

Since we first started telling people about our travel plans, many close friends and family have asked me what we are doing with Moby while we are gone and more recently how I am feeling about leaving Moby. I am pretty sure that people are more concerned about what I am going to do without Moby, rather than what Moby is going to do without me. I never knew that I would grow so attached to a dog, the thing is Moby is kind of my best friend. She literally sat by my side for 2 1/2 years while I went to grad school online, she kept me company when Wes lived in Odessa, TX for 6-months and she waited out a crazy Oklahoma storm with me in our bathroom when the electricity went out and the windows of our house were shattering due to the large hail. I am sure many people may already be thinking, she is a dog and she is going to be just fine while you are gone. I will also be just fine, but that doesn’t mean that leaving yesterday wasn’t incredibly hard for me and that I didn’t kind of feel like my throat was on fire and that I could barely hold back my tears for the first half of our ride to Seattle. I know in my heart though, she is happy where she is, that we are about to embark on our greatest adventure yet and that I will see her again someday.

– K