A pink bow with lines of blue and white is placed on the head of white fluffy fur and the snap of a photo is heard. This was a usual occurrence for our fluffy mini poodle Sandy after a trip to the groomer. Some days she returned from the groomers with her hair up in a little ponytail with a colored hair tie whilst some days it was a cute colorful bow or two. Those memories were kept sacred and became moments I miss more and more. 

Sandy was 18 years old but was always filled with energy when she sensed someone nearby despite losing her vision the year before. She was a strong fighter and I miss her optimistic personality despite the challenges she faced as she grew older and the surgeries she underwent. She seemed to smile for photos when she was dressed up and stood on two legs to give you her paw. 

On Jan. 20 at 1 p.m., my heart shattered as I was told my family had said goodbye to Sandy and allowed her to cross the rainbow bridge. Though it was a difficult decision, my family felt it was time to allow Sandy to rest and be freed from any discomfort or challenges she had been through. 

At first, it did not seem real and when the initial shock passed over me I realized who I lost. I began to look back at the many photos and videos of her as a way to reconnect with those meaningful moments. Photos allow me to remember her silly, loving personality as well as recognize how much she was loved by my family. 

About two years prior to her passing, she had moved away with my aunt and the times I was able to visit her grew less and less. My aunt had a close connection with Sandy and was able to care for her when Sandy moved in.  It seemed as though days increasingly became busier and I look back wishing to have seen her once more. I do not want to forget her and her strong aura as my family and I channel through the grief and find more captured memories of her in photos and videos. 

I look through the captured memories of her running around in our backyard, wrapped up in a blanket and even going for her walk. My favorite memory is when she was riding along with my cousins in a wagon throughout our backyard. Her happy expression lit up all our faces as the wagon went up and down and she posed for photos. Despite being brought into a wagon already squished with two of my cousins she wagged her tail as if she was off on an adventure. My family hopes to gather her videos and photos to create a collection of memories we can all remember her with.

Death is often feared but in my family and culture, death is inevitable and not something to be feared but rather thought of as a time of peace. The death of a pet who I grew up with and created countless memories with does not differ from the death of an individual. She was a part of the family who has now found harmony and restored health in the place of hills and meadows, across the rainbow bridge. 

I feel a sense of peacefulness knowing we will meet again and she will run among us throughout the celebrations of Dia de los Muertos. Dia de los Muertos is a tradition in my culture that gives the opportunity to celebrate loved ones who have passed away. On Oct. 27 specifically, her presence will be strong and we will meet again. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to have met a dog like Sandy who positively impacted not only me but everyone who got the chance to meet her. I hope to remember her optimistic personality that allowed for those surrounding her to feel the same joy. I am grateful for the photos and videos that captured her moments with my family and I hope to continue to find hidden moments captured through lens.