Sometimes, the universe provides the dog you need, instead of the one you want.
While still grieving the loss of our golden boy, Ollie, Dan broached the subject of getting another dog. He sheepishly admitted that he had already gone to the spca and picked out eighty pounds of pure trouble named Zeus.
Ollie’s grave isn’t even cold yet, I thought.
And honestly, I’d been looking forward to the increased freedom of only having one dog. But everyone’s grief is different, and when I looked into my husband’s eyes, I could see that he needed this. I reluctantly agreed to a trial I knew would never end.
And trial was a good word for it. Over the past year, I’ve been bitten and scratched, and had my clothes ripped off in the name of play. I have been woken up at all hours, drooled on, and been forced away from my writing with insistent whining, barking, and pawing. I have been pushed beyond my wit’s end. And there, I found unexpected joy.
These are some of the things Zeus has taught me this year:
-Play hard and rest hard.
-Don’t place value on what’s not important.
-Let go, be silly, and have fun.
-Assume the best of others.
-I have more patience than I imagined
Happy anniversary, Zeus. Much to my surprise, I love you. Like, a lot.
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