Sawyer's New Collar and Leash

Since Earl died last week, Sawyer and I have become walking buddies. The three of us used to love to go for walks, but we had to slow down these last six months or so as Earl's health was failing. I didn't have the heart to take Sawyer out for a walk, leaving Earl to howl by himself at home. So, as Earl slowly met his end, Sawyer and I grew more and more lethargic.

Add our physical lethargy to our grief, and what we both needed was to get back to our walking routine.

The thing about losing a dog, whether you were that dog's human or his fellow furry friend, is that the house gets super quiet and feels empty. When Will and Katie are at work and school, I usually spend the quiet time focusing on my writing. But this last week I've been forcing myself to take a break. A walking break. Just me and my girl, Sawyer. For the good of both of us. It's good exercise for our bodies, minds, and souls. When I feel anxious or depressed, there are few things that cheer me up more that a brisk walk. Sawyer agrees, although she would add there's nothing better in this world than leaving your pee trail all around the neighborhood.

We haven't made it out every day, but we've made it out enough days to feel like we're back in the swing of things. Each time I'd reach for the leash, though, I'd feel the loss of Earl. Because we had gone everywhere together as a pack, we only had a double-dog leash. At first, I didn't know what to do with the unused part of the double leash. I couldn't let it drag behind us. That would be too depressing, reminding us of who used to be attached to it.

I figured out that I could just hook both ends to Sawyer's collar. And that worked. But each time I'd reach for the double dog leash to walk a single dog, my heart sank. It was time to get Sawyer her very own leash.

Sawyer's a tennis ball nut. We take her to the dog park to swim in the lake. Katie, or Will, or I will throw the ball into the lake, and Sawyer--half Beagle and half Lab--swims out to retrieve it for us. We never had to train her to do this. From the first time I took Sawyer to the dog park as a puppy, she knew instinctively how to play fetch.

I found the perfect collar and leash set for Sawyer: pink with bright neon-yellow tennis balls. Here she is modeling it after our walk today:

She looks pretty fit for an old lady. Sawyer will be twelve this September. I plan on walking her for as long as she'll let me.

Two Anybodies Kissing

Warning: I'm new to this whole organized religion thing, and I think football's dumb. So you might not want to read this post if you're a big fan of Biblical Fundamentalism or the NFL.

I'm no authority on The Bible, and I've barely been paying attention to the news of St. Louis Ram's draftee Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend on TV. But I know what I know, and I feel what I feel, so I feel like telling you what I know about this current event.

The cool thing about being a Presbyterian is they teach you to read Scripture and interpret it yourself. The cool thing about not being a football fan is I couldn't care less if Sam got drafted by the NFL. I'm just interested in the story of the kiss.

I'm a kissy person. I whole-heartedly admit one of the main reasons I picked Will as a mate is because of his bright red kissy lips. I kiss my parents and my daughter on the lips. Closed mouth, but still. I know many people who think that's weird. I kiss my dogs and cats like they're my fur kids. I try not to aim for the mouth with Sawyer, since she's one of those dogs who thinks cat poop is a Scooby Snack. I like kissing so much, I don't care if someone I love is sick and I might catch their germs: I kiss them anyway.

When I was a kid, my neighborhood friends and I decided that Stephanie's dad was The Best Dad In the World. Stephanie's dad escaped during the Hungarian Revolution and moved to the United States as a young man. He retained his accent and his Eastern-European-Male's propensity for kissing. It was not uncommon to show up at Stephanie's house to see if she could play and be greeted by a kiss on the cheek from Stephanie's dad. It was weird and wonderful. Sure, I kissed my dad at bedtime every night, but I wasn't used to seeing adult men kiss anyone other than their own wives and kids.

Public displays of affection do not gross me out at all. Not that I'm a voyeur. I don't seek out people kissing so I can spy on them. It's just that if I happen to see two people kissing in front of me, it doesn't make me feel squeamish like it does some people. My mother for one. I remember when she graciously accepted my invitation to accompany me to an Indigo Girls concert (when none of my friends thought they were uncool enough to go with me). She said she enjoyed the music, but she wanted to barf every time she saw two people kissing.

"Two lesbians kissing?" I asked.

"No, two anybodies kissing. Yuck. I do not like public displays of affection," Mom said.

Not to pathologize Mom's preference for stoicism, but I'd like to interject here that my mom was raised mostly by her dad and her nanny until she started school at age five. My grandmother had "nerve problems" and was bedridden much of the time. Mom says she remembers her life as being very quiet and boring when she was a young kid. She was forced to kiss her mother, out of respect, but she didn't like it and only kissed her out of obligation.

I, on the other hand, grew up sleeping in the same bedroom with two of my sisters. I was hugged and kissed like real live doll. Plus, it was the 70s, and society as a whole was getting much more affectionate.

So I understand why Mom's not all that into kissing. She thinks there is a time and a place. I, on the other hand, get tiny little butterflies in my stomach when I see two people so happy, so in love, no matter the time or the place.

OK, maybe I am a little bit of a voyeur. But I'm not a perv. OK, maybe a little. I do admit, similar to how some men like to look at, *ahem*, prurient images of two women together, I think it's hot to see two men kiss. And you thought I used to like to go clubbing for the dance music--ha!

No, seriously, I do not have any problem seeing two anybodies kiss, so I don't get what the big deal is about Michael Sims kissing his boyfriend when he received the news that he was drafted into the NFL. It seems like a reasonable time to express your feelings to me.

I've read some comments from people who express concern that seeing two men kiss is "not Christian" and "not good for kids to see". I disagree. From my interpretation of Scripture, I think Jesus is very pro-kissing. Between two anybodies. Here's why. Read the bold print:

Luke 7:36-50
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
A Sinful Woman Forgiven

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Sounds to me like Jesus welcomes kisses from harlots, from men, from everybody. Dear God, my friends. What is wrong with a kiss? What's wrong with our country that people get upset about their kids seeing two men engaged in a kiss on TV but they don't make a fuss when their kids see two men engaged in war?

Like this guy, Conservative lobbyist Jack Burkman. His panties are all in a bunch over this Sam-kisses-his-boyfriend-on-TV event. He wants people to start boycotting the Rams who drafted Sam, and Visa who gave Sam his first sponsorship.

I like how the writer points our the hypocrisy of Burkman's concern:

"Despite his focus on religious values, Burkman appears to be focusing his boycott only on the NFL team that drafted a gay man, not on the teams that hire players who kill pedestrians while drunk, assault police officers, rape women, bully teammates or otherwise break the Ten Commandments."

Love People. Love God. It's as simple as that, my friends. Stop using Christianity as an excuse to judge people.

How Do We Love Our Neighbors?: Snail Mail and Showing Up

Last night's Gay Christian Fellowship was the best yet. I hope you will join us next week when we resume our meetings on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:15 at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. We encourage all people to attend. Not just LGBT people, but also our allies.

We had a good turnout last night. Roeland Park City Councilmember Megan England was our guest. I was impressed with how eloquent and yet down-to-earth she is. She sat at the tables with us, ate dinner with us, and listened as we participated in our Bible discussion of John 8--the great Cast the First Stone chapter.

Finally, when it was Councilmember England's turn to speak, she informed us about this important issue in the community:

On June 16th the Roeland Park City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance to "add sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected classes."

In other words, if you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender, right now it's completely legal for a business in Roeland Park to turn you down for a job because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. Landlords can tell you straight up, "we don't rent to your kind" and you have no legal recourse against such discrimination.

I know. It seems crazy in this day and age to not protect LGBT from such discrimination. Our society in 2014 is much more accepting of LGBT people than it was when some of the old city codes were first written, some forty years ago. Our society in 2014 has changed enormously since even the early 1990s, when my ex-girlfriend and I were turned down for an apartment in a neighboring city in the same county as Roeland Park.

Cindy and I were young--early twenties. We'd been dating for a couple of years and living together almost since day one. We were looking for an affordable apartment in Johnson County where I was attending the community college. We found an ad for a one-bedroom apartment that fit our budget.

From the moment we arrived for a tour of the apartment, the manager gave us the stink eye. As we opened the closet doors and flushed the toilet to check the water pressure, she eyed us suspiciously. As we headed toward the door, we said we were interested in filling out an application. The manager put a stop to it at once.

"We don't have any two-bedroom apartments for rent right now," she said, sternly.

"That's OK. We just want a one-bedroom," I said.

After an awkward pause, the manager said, "We have a policy that we don't rent one-bedroom apartments out to two people of the same sex." She looked at Cindy's tattoos, her nose ring, her short hair.

Cindy looked at me in disbelief.

"So if we were a man and a woman, you'd rent out a one-bedroom apartment to us?" I asked.

The manager held up her hand as if to say, I'm not arguing with you, Little Missy. "All I'm saying is the owners don't allow two people of the same sex to share a one-bedroom apartment. That's our policy."

We left without a fuss. What else could we do? There were no city ordinances to protect us.

Councilmember England and a couple of others on the Roeland Park City Council want to modernize their city codes to reflect how society has evolved. Nowadays we think it's absurd that two young broke-ass college women could be prevented from sharing a bedroom without the landlord butting into their business. But not everyone on the Roeland Park City Council is ready to vote in favor of updating their ordinance.

That's where we come in. Councilmember England said the best two ways to encourage the Roeland Park City Council to pass this anti-discrimination ordinance is snail mail and showing up to city council meetings.

Write a letter to the city council members. Express to them why you think it's important that Roeland Park pass an ordinance that protects LGBT people from discrimination. Even if you're not a resident of Roeland Park, if you live within the Greater Kansas City area, you've probably spent your tax dollars at local restaurants Einstein Bros Bagels or China Star, gas stations like QuikTrip, stores like Price Chopper and Lowe's. Certainly the city council members would not want people to boycott their businesses and decrease tax revenue. But that's what we can tell them we'll do--stop shopping in Roeland Park--if they don't update their city ordinance to protect LGBT people.

Here's a list of the Roeland Park City Council Members. Councilmember England suggests using snail mail. She said it's much more effective than email, since it shows more effort than just quickly sending an email. Here's where you can mail your letters:

Roeland Park City Council
4600 West 51st Street
Roeland Park, Kansas 66205

Councilmember England also recommends showing up to the city council meetings. You don't have to talk if you don't want to. Just your physical presence shows you're concerned about the issue. But if you do want to voice your opinion, it's a great opportunity to do so.

The next Roeland Park City Council meeting will be at 7:00PM on Monday, May 19, 2014. Here's the address (same as where you can mail your letters):

Roeland Park City Council
4600 West 51st Street
Roeland Park, Kansas 66205

Here's the rest of the information I picked up from the flier handed out before this week's Gay Christian Fellowship:

On June 16th the Roeland Park City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance to "add sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected classes."

For several weeks this ordinance has been on the agenda of the Roeland Park City Council, and it has generated considerable public debate. At one of the early meetings Equality Kansas made a presentation favoring the ordinance, and last Monday an attorney who is in litigation in the State of Washington for the Alliance Defending Freedom came to speak against it.

We are aware that other municipalities are closely watching the process in Roeland Park.

Let me know if you have any questions. This is an exciting opportunity to show that we truly love our neighbors, as Jesus teaches us to do.

Sawyer and Thatcher: Napping Buddies

Sawyer and Earl were not just life-long playmates, but good ole napping buddies. Now that Earl has gone to Doggie Heaven, who's Sawyer supposed to snuggle up with?

You guessed it! Thatcher. See, even asshole cats can sometimes be good for something:

Boko Haram Is a Joke: #BringBackOurGirls

Here's another awesome episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Once again, it's the court jester telling the truth.

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Go ahead, Rush Limbaugh. Make fun of Mrs. Obama and activists such as Malala Yousafzai who have joined the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. As these hashtag activists do the important work of raising awareness of the kidnapping of over 200 girls by religious extremists in Nigeria, Limbaugh can just keep on doing his thing, making himself look like an asshole. Jon Stewart suggests we retaliate with this hashtag:

#F*@KYOURUSH

"See, that's the thing about hashtag activism. It cannot force a crazy person to do something, but it can shame a less crazy person into not doing nothing." -- Jon Stewart

"You guys are trying so hard to convince everybody that you're such badasses, but all you've done with this kidnapping is highlight who the real badasses are: the kids you kidnapped. Compared to a teenager who knows that her desire for an education can get her dragged into a snake infested jungle to be sold as a bride by some demented stick-chewing cartoon villain but still gets up and goes to class every day, fully aware of that danger. Compared to their courage, I'd say Boko Haram is a bunch of little girls, but you know what? They don't deserve that compliment." -- Jon Stewart

Amen!

Badass Girl Malala Yousafzai 

image source Twitter

I pray for the safe return of these girls to their homes so they can get back to school, get an education, and keep fighting for the rights of women and girls around the globe.

LGBT Discrimination in Johnson County?

Attention!

Roeland Park City Council Ward 3 Councilmember Megan England will be speaking at Gay Christian Fellowship this Tuesday evening:

Tuesday, May 13, 2014
6:30-8:15PM

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
11100 College Boulevard
Overland Park, KS 66210

913-345-1256

Room 26
Directions

Gay Christian Fellowship is for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people and those who love us. As an outreach to many who have been wounded by church doctrine in other places, this group will emphasize the welcoming, inclusive love of God as expressed in the gospels and lived at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Please invite friends who would be blessed by this experience of Grace.

Please join us for the usual food, faith, and fellowship, but also to listen to special guest Councilmember England speak about this important issue in the community:

On June 16th the Roeland Park City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance to "add sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected classes."

For several weeks this ordinance has been on the agenda of the Roeland Park City Council, and it has generated considerable public debate. At one of the early meetings Equality Kansas made a presentation favoring the ordinance, and last Monday an attorney who is in litigation in the State of Washington for the Alliance Defending Freedom came to speak against it.

We are aware that other municipalities are closely watching the process in Roeland Park.

Come join us and be informed!

Mothering Love to Others

I attended church yesterday with my mom, my daughter, and my friend Linda. Linda and I have worked together at the library for over twenty-one years. She's twenty years older than me, so technically she could be my mom, but her youthful personality makes her seem more like a sister to me.

It was a special service in honor of Mother's Day. I was worried about how the brouhaha would affect Linda, who herself was unable to have human children, although she's been a doting mother to numerous furry kids over time. Also, both Linda's mom and aunt passed away in recent years. An only child, Linda has no nieces or nephews to fawn over. I can see how she might resent those around her who can celebrate the Mother's Day holiday with living people. But instead of complaining about her lot in life, she chooses to celebrate with us. She even brought me this beautiful plant as a Mother's Day gift:

I'm not a big holiday person. I don't like to plan things in advance, so I often forget to buy cards and gifts. I rarely even dust the run-of-the-mill decorations we have out in our house, let alone bother to decorate with special holiday items. I think every day should be celebrated instead of making a big deal out of one day of the year. But I understand I'm in the minority, and especially since I had Katie almost eight years ago, I've gotten with the program and mostly manage to at least fake some enthusiasm for holidays. 

As we sat in the pew, I looked around at all the mothers sitting with their families and I wondered what Linda was thinking. I didn't want to make an issue out of it, so I didn't say anything. Fortunately, Linda's an extrovert, so it's not too hard to know what's going on inside her mind.

"You know," she said, "I was thinking about how I never had kids, and I just think God must have planned it that way."

It makes me sad when people say such things. How is it fair that some women pop out litters of unwanted and neglected children, and yet other women, who would make wonderful, devoted mothers, are unable to have any? I know, I know. Life isn't fair. That pisses me off.

"I'm just glad I have Katie for a Godchild," she said smiling wistfully.

"Katie's lucky to have you," I said. "I know what you mean, though. Will and I wanted six kids and my body was only able to produce one. But we're so lucky to have our special girl." I regretted what I said as soon as it came out of my mouth. How insensitive to complain to someone with no kids that you wish you could have more than one.

The music started and the service began. The entire congregation sang at first, and then Katie sang with three other girls her age in the Celebration! Choir. It was beautiful. When their song was over the girls sat down on the chancel steps and other children in the congregation joined them for "Come As a Child" in which Pastor Kimby, herself child-free, talked to the kiddos about the commandment to honor your father and mother. The children were then released to go back and sit with their families in the pews. Katie snuggled in between Linda and me. 

It was time for the whole congregation to stand and say the "Unison Prayer". It was just perfect for the occasion:

Dear God, we pray today for all who share in the joys and demands of motherhood. We pray for mothers in third-world countries who watch their children perish in hunger and who have nothing to give them. We pray for mothers who live with regrets for misplaced priorities, lost opportunities, and alienation born of neglect. We pray today God for mothers who need to work, and who must entrust their children to the care of others. We pray for mothers who are chronically tired. We pray today for mothers, whose children are far away, busy or preoccupied, and who may forget to act on life's gentle nudges. Loving God, we pray for mothers whose best years have been spent parenting, and who now must reassemble their skills for the years ahead. Living God, we pray for all who wish they could be mothers and who give their mothering love to others. Lord Jesus Christ, who in your hour of trial tried to provide for your mother, send your Spirit to bless the world's mothers, and use our hearts and hands to make the blessing real...and all for your love's sake. Amen. (written by Ernest T. Campbell)

When we got to the part about "mothering love to others" I looked over at Linda, put my hand on her shoulder, and we shared a smile. She patted Katie on the knee and kept on praying. We are blessed to have Linda in our lives.

Mother's Day at the Dog Park

Will, Katie, and I took Sawyer to the dog park for a fun afternoon of sun and swimming. Happy Mother's Day to mothers of all children--furry and bald:

Sawyer doesn't seem to be concerned that Will drives with his eyes shut.

Walking to the lake.

Katie to Sawyer: "I'll beat you there!"

Me and my two girls, Katie and Sawyer.

Sawyer: "Where's the ball?"

Katie loves to jump in the lake.

Sawyer shaking dry.

Katie loves to throw the tennis ball into the lake for Sawyer to retrieve. 

Sawyer fetching the ball in the lake.

We are so grateful for the Shawnee Mission Park off-lease dog area.

Sawyer: "Come on, Bald Puppy. Throw the ball!"

Sawyer is half Beagle and half Labrador Retriever. She's a natural swimmer who loves to fetch.

Time to head toward the woods.

Katie: "Let's go on an adventure!"

Will explaining to Katie something about interrupting convoys with trees.

"You could really slow down your enemy this way..."

Sawyer stays close to Katie, the ball holder.

It was a beautiful spring day. Warm and sunny at the lake. The shady woods felt good.

We reached the end of the trail and stopped to cool off in the breeze.

Back home, ready for a big nap.

Earl's Paw Print

If you live in the Greater Kansas City area, have I got a vet clinic for you. Dr. Elizabeth Wilcox and the whole team at Great Plains SPCA are amazing. Since June 2011 these fine people have been providing medical services for pets in families that might not otherwise be able to afford veterinary care.

We get our pets' annual vaccinations and checkups at the Merriam campus. They also provided the surgery our dog Sawyer needed when a benign tumor on her toe became inflamed. We couldn't have afforded to pay a for-profit vet. Not only did the surgery cost less at the GPSPCA, but, as they state on their website, "all revenue received from clients at the Great Plains SPCA Veterinary Care Center goes back to support our mission to give hope and promise to the homeless and needy pets in our community."

When Earl had a seizure on Wednesday, at first we thought he was going to die at home, but when we realized it might be a prolonged, agonizing death, we decided to have him euthanized. Trouble is, it was already about 3:30 in the afternoon. Many vet clinics would be closing soon, and who knew if they'd have an opening for an emergency euthanasia.

I called the GPSPCA and they assured me that they could fit us in.

Earl got to die quickly and in much less pain than if we hadn't gotten help. I can't tell you how grateful I am to the clinic staff for helping our sweet Earl leave this plane in the most peaceful way possible.

Then today I got home from work, and inside our mailbox was this card from Dr. Wilcox and the GPSPCA family:

Carleton Family,

Earl was obviously much-loved and a big part of the family. I know he enjoyed a rich, long life with you. We are thinking of you as you mourn his loss.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Wilcox, DVM and the GPSPCA family

She even included Earl's paw print for us to keep:

Sawyer, My Walking Companion

I admit, Earl was my favorite. You're not supposed to have favorites, but he was. I never said it in front of Sawyer, or if I did I'd cover her big, floppy ears and whisper out the side of my mouth, sometimes even spelling the words:

"E-A-R-L-Y B-I-R-D I-S T-H-E B-E-S-T D-O-G I-N T-H-E W-O-R-L-D!"

Not that Sawyer is a bad dog. Not at all. She's one of the sweetest, gentlest, most loving creatures I've had the pleasure of knowing. But Earl was my first puppy-to-death dog. The firstborn of our pack. He was my special joy.

In fact, I got Sawyer more for Earl than for me. I'd recently broken up with my ex-girlfriend. She took with her the two dogs she brought into our relationship. I took Earl, who had just turned one. I had picked Earl out from the three puppies available at the St. Joseph shelter. His brother and sister were mostly white, so they looked more like a purebred Great Pyrenees, which is what their mother was. No one new what the father was, which is why these three puppies ended up in the shelter at seven-weeks-old: their owner didn't want to tarnish his bitch's good rep.

I picked Earl precisely because he was the oddball. He had a fluffy mostly-white body, but his head was almost solid black. He was adorable.

Sawyer was also an adorable puppy:

I didn't actually pick Sawyer. She picked me. I got her for free from an ad in the paper. I wanted a puppy companion for Earl, who was lonely in the house all day by himself while I was at work. He had been raised from 7 weeks old around other dogs. He needed a playmate. But also, I decided to get another dog when I saw the ad for free puppies. I was afraid if I didn't adopt one someone else would use it for dog fighting bait. 

Her situation was similar to Earl's. Sawyer's mother was a purebred Beagle. The neighbor's black Lab jumped the fence. That fall, five black little mini-Labs were born. I called the number in the paper. An elderly man answered the phone and told me to come over and pick one out.

I knocked on his door. He had a nasal cannula transporting oxygen to his lungs and he looked about 100 years old. He told me to go out to the back yard and "pick any pup you want."

I walked to the side of the house to enter through the gate. As soon as the lock hit the chain-link fence, five black little mini-Labs and their Beagle mother all ran toward me. Cuteness overload! I sat on the ground and let them crawl all over me. Each one of them, the puppies and the mother, were starved for human attention. I couldn't imagine their owner got out to the back yard very often.

After about twenty minutes of sitting there, soaking up some puppy love, I gave up trying to decide. I stood and announced, "OK, who wants to go home with me?"

I walked toward the gate. When I got there, I looked down and there was one puppy. I picked it up and took it to the owner's front door. I called through the screen, "I'll take this one."

He used a walker to inch toward the door. "Come inside. D'ya git a girl or a boy?"

"I don't know," I said, laughing.

He looked at me like I was strange and took a peek at the puppy's bottom. "Ya got a girl," he said in babytalk to the puppy's face. It was funny to hear this gruff old man talk to her like that. He pet underneath her chin and said, "Hold on a minute."

He came back with some dog nail clippers and proceeded to slowly clip each one of her nails as he leaned on his walker. "Now, watch her nails. You gotta trim them often."

It was sweet that he seemed concerned about her welfare and not anxious to get rid of her.

If only he'd known he was giving away a "designer dog". Who knew? I certainly didn't. I just wanted a free puppy, but I've since found out that evidently Beagle-Lab mixes are a thing. This description sounds just like her.

She was the perfect companion for Earl. I could go to work each day and leave them alone to play together. And as they got older, and lazier, to nap together.

Now Earl's gone. What's Sawyer's job now that she's not Earl's companion?

This morning I took a look at Sawyer, lying on the couch snoring. She'd made a "Hrmph" noise that sounded to me like she was trying to say, "Mom, I'm sad."

"Come on Girl, let's go for a walk!" I announced. She perked right up.

We haven't been able to take long walks for many months due to Earl's failing health. It was great to walk around the neighborhood with an energetic dog. We took our time and soaked up the sun, smelled the smells, and enjoyed our walk. Just the two of us. Walking Companions.

Sawyer, back home after our good, long walk