This past Sunday, I was working on finalizing my move and getting everything into my RAV4.
I was sitting at the edge of my futon and started packing up my blankets while Zilla was dropping a toy on my foot when everything hit me at once: I’m leaving a good life behind.. my friends, my apartment, the beautiful Bay Area.
I started crying silent tears.
Meanwhile, Zilla was still trying to give the toy to my foot. When she looked up and saw that I was crying, though, she dropped her toy (an old, tattered work glove) and came to give me kisses. When I continued to cry, she jumped up and gave me a hug!
If you’ve ever met Zilla, you’ll know that she is absolutely not the most affectionate being in the world. Ball is life. Hooman throws life. Hooman does not touch GoddessZilla. GoddessZilla does not get near hooman.
..which makes moments where she even chooses to acknowledge you (you, independent of ball) and especially moments like the one we had on Sunday all the more special.
Randomly/sporadically over the past couple of months, I compiled a list of words that she knows (though I don’t think this captures 100%):
- Potato
- French fry
- Treat
- Walk
- Park
- Beach
- Uncle Al
- Doodle
- Margot
- Bath
- Come
- Sit
- Stay
- Wait
- Slow
- Faster
- Spin
- Lie down
- Figure 8
- Around
- Through
- Up
- Left
- Right
- Shake
- Pound it
- Other paw
- Touch
- Walk with me
- Put it in the trash can
- Find it
- I’ll be right back
- Get that fly
- Frisbee
- Ball
- Fetch machine
- Rope
- Tiger
- Moose
- Poopmoji
- Bento ball
- Dog Park
- A-frame
- Tunnel
- Weave
- Under
- Go back
- Water
- Give kiss
- Tell them
- Go eat
- Go potty
- Go poop
- Gimme dat butt
- WHO’S THE CUTEST PUPPY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLDI
It’s an odd list, but my favorites are definitely “put it in the trash can” and “go potty” for being so functional. :p
Anyway. She’s the most wonderful and most brilliant dog I’ve ever met. I miss her already.
Happy girl. 
Angry girl. (She does not usually sit in the front seat.) 
Still angry girl. 
Forgiving girl.
Bonus: Here’s a video that I made to celebrate her first birthday:
Kiona x Coffee 