Every year in the summer my family and I go to the Outer Banks.  It is our favorite place and for my entire life we have never missed a year of going.  This will be the first year we would have gone since I lost my beloved dog (she was a dog but I feel this word doesn't describe her at all.  She was my daughter, my savior, my guiding light even in my darkest times), Sophie.  After I lost her we got a puppy named Booker, I just couldn't handle having only one dog.  I also couldn't handle another female or another sheltie which she was.  It has been a difficult year losing her, me going to college, and my dad losing his job.  This will most likely be our first year as a family we will not be able to go.  Especially in a time where we need each other more we will have to forego a vacation so that we all must work.