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Stephanie Mikel

@stuckyyy

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Flying around in the skies during the day and doting dog mom to Larry (@larrythenewf) and Curie by night.

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We had to say goodbye to Larry this week and our family, our home, just isn’t the same. Larry lived loudly and passed softly and we’ll miss him endlessly.

He had his really good day recently and as I sat with him on his final day, I couldn’t help but think about how time steals everything from us eventually. But, as I pet his brown and white speckled paws and scratched those crimpy-haired ears, they were full of life and love and adventure. As much as I wanted to be angry and needed more time, it came with the realization that time gifts us the things we love so much in the first place.

We are so incredibly grateful for the ten years we had with our Larbear. Every single torn up toilet paper roll was worth it. His head on the table while we ate is something we grew to cherish and we weren’t going to try and change it as time went on. The onus to make sure you closed the bathroom door if you were taking a shower, because without fault, Larry would join you if you left it open. The myriad of missing shoes in our house, not because he chewed them, but just because he liked bringing you one to greet you at the door or wake you up.

Wherever we were, he was. Some might call it separation anxiety, but it was truly his undying loyalty, love, and need to make sure we were okay. How lucky were we to have that every single day?

Even though Larry didn’t make it to the end of our story, we’ll always have the corner turned down on his page, because it was one of our absolute favorites. He was here only a short time in the grand scheme of things, yet he was a part of every single big moment of our adult lives thus far. Our dogs never get to spend enough time in our stories. What we wouldn’t give for them to share our whole story with us, but we’re truly grateful for those pages of memories and moments with our big boy.

Wherever he is, we hope it is full of cold tiles to sleep on, hoses that never go off, endless lettuce, trails for miles and miles, open car windows, and a nice big porch to say hello to everyone that passes.

Rest easy, bubs. by @stuckyyy

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2 months ago

Rest Easy, Curie Girl

Last night, our sweet Chunk sassy stepped across the rainbow bridge. In her last few months, she fought an aggressive cancer and did it with gusto — the same way she did everything. We’re so grateful that she gave us the extra time of everything that was uniquely and unequivocally “Chunk Chunk”.

We weren’t looking for a dog when we stumbled on a post about one from a mill up for adoption. The first time we met her and she gave us her trusting look, that was it, she knew it as much as we did — she was ours. Curie’s first days came with challenges, but once she opened up, there was no going back. She gave us so much more unconditional love than we could have ever expected and we’re forever changed because of that.

We’re going to miss giving her “bellies” and singing her songs. Car rides with her as co-pilot and bossy barks to Larry. Waking up to her big tail wags and coming home to her tippy taps. Most of all, the times when she’d walk herself home and wait on the step looking back to make sure we were coming, too.

Everyone has said over and over, “you’ve given her the best years of her life”, and while we know that’s true, it’s really us that got the best of hers. by @stuckyyy

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3 years ago

As long as it’s okay, I’ll stay with you, through the years. by @stuckyyy

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5 years ago

It’s a sobering thought to think that 25 years has passed since 9/11 when I can still recall every single moment of that day. I watch crime documentaries and think to myself, “there’s no way that someone can remember what they did on a particular day year ago,” yet every September 11th, I sit and think about every moment that day. I replay it in my head and remember the people, and smells, the moments all so vividly. I remember that my mom picked me up from school in the morning. I remember listening to WGN in our Mountaineer. We went to the firehouse and watched news on a loop. We listened to our parents prepare for what could happen in our own city and prepare themselves for that. I remember, and that is the most important thing. We can’t forget that day and I hope we never will.

In 25 years, it has somehow become harder because even though there was incredible fear as an 11 year old, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. As an adult, I understand so much more and understand the gravity of the day and lives lost more than I ever have before. As I walked through the 9/11 memorial with my mom and sister, the calls to family hit so much more as a person with my own husband and son. Parents and loved ones trying to stay calm and leave messages of hope when they knew they weren’t coming home. The pieces of a flight attendant manual from Flight 93 were the same as the one I carried in my own as a new flight attendant. Crew members and passengers just trying to do their best when their morning had been normal and changed in an instant. 9/11 was a tragedy that shaped my childhood and one that will continue to shape me as I age. We will never forget. by @stuckyyy

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a month ago

Labor Day weekend: catching fish, catching rays, and refusing to catch the hint that summer is ending. 🎣☀️🚤 by @stuckyyy

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a month ago

Ring the alarm for 250! We didn’t steal the Declaration of Independence, but we did get to ride on the engine. Celebrating the best of what this country is about on this special Independence Day. #4thofjuly #america250 by @stuckyyy

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3 months ago

In the middle of everything changing, this stays the same — he’ll never need to imagine what a good dad looks like. G gets to live it, because he’s got Gooze. by @stuckyyy

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4 months ago

He is a great dad, the best, really. ❤️

Happy Dad Day to our one and only, Gooze. by @stuckyyy

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4 months ago

This week, I became “mommy” and no longer “mama”. I think if you’re a mom, you know that it’s that absolutely bittersweet part of motherhood. I get the joy of seeing our little human blossom into this new version of himself; he has new vocabulary, questions you didn’t see coming, personality that leaves you cackling, and bigger emotions — all these things I’ve been waiting for. Yet, with happy tears, I’m visiting the smaller version of him in my camera roll and the memories that live on a constant loop in my mind. Today is serving as that lovely reminder to just stop and smell the flowers (lovely ones that our sweet boy picked out) and celebrate all the ways that he has made me mommy. It is the greatest honor and joy of my life to be G’s mom, today and always. ❤️

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women out there — I see you in all the stages and my respect and love for you is deep. by @stuckyyy

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5 months ago

This kid. ❤️ by @stuckyyy

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6 months ago

It was a wild Easter with our little bunny (dog). All the fun was had on his first egg hunt with his cousins and he even found the golden egg. 🐰🐣 by @stuckyyy

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6 months ago

We came, we saw, we bought an overpriced stuffed animal. 🐻‍❄️🦁 taken in Brookfield Zoo Chicago by @stuckyyy

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7 months ago