“When was the last time someone was so overjoyed to see you, so brimming with love that they literally ran to greet you?” – Mark Twain

We’re just shy of reaching the one year point since this very good boy became mine. I brought him home right after Christmas — my beloved pandemic pup. It had been many, many years since I’d owned a dog, so I was quite out of practice. And I have to tell you that this experience has been a surprise all the way around — and I’m still getting used to it. But I don’t think I will ever get used to how much this dog dotes on me and how utterly and unconditionally he loves me. Don’t get me wrong, I take very good care of him and love him dearly, but this level of devotion feels mostly unearned. He wants to be wherever I am, participate in whatever I do and watch my every move to determine what his next move will be. I wish I could see what he sees and understand what he’s thinking, but suffice it to say that there is a great deal of truth to the expression, “May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.” Even being half the person he thinks I am is something to strive for.