Welcome to the post in which I squee over beloved members of my life like I’m a fangirl.
(Actually, that’s kind of awesome – being a fangirl over people in my own life.)
((side note to my selves: take this on as a mantra.))
I have some of the most amazing beings in my life, both human and animal.
I have incredible artistic/scientific friends who are able to be supportive and encouraging and just the best possible persons I need in varying and sundry situations.
I have generous parents and in-laws who have been incredible through the ups and downs of life.
I have a spouse who is… well, ye gods, I keep falling more in love with him every day. He adds his strength to mine, teaches me to be brave, loves my dreams, ideals, and ambitions, is not threatened by my successes, loves our mutual animal companions, is gentle and loving with me, is…
*swoon*
Okay I’ll shut up about him now.
And I once had a dog who changed my life into something glorious.
I know, I know… it’s both precious and specious to talk about an animal changing your life. I do think it’s worth noticing that the *experience* of that precious, specious thing is a really…
Well, it’s like you look back and you realize that you’ve been on this little love-and-squee vacation for however long you’re looking back.
If that makes sense.
I’ve spent the past couple of months thinking about how my life unfolded with Amelia, and comparing it to how my life unfolded with Jon, and it’s truly remarkable to see how certain kinds of love, all on their lonesomes, can inspire great sea changes in you. And like living by the sea, you’re so busy looking at all the little rhythmic moments that comprise them that you don’t realize until you look back on old shorelines…
and holy crap the shore has been resculpted into a thing of splendor.
With Jon it’s a lot easier to see, because we’ve been checking in with each other on how we’re changing in subtle ways. Not for us Lillian Hellmann’s quote “People change and forget to tell each other.”
But a dog? A dog can’t talk back. All I ever had as proof of her ever-adapting love was how she overcame those obstacles and continued to learn how to express joy and make me – then us – laugh.
It’s that hindsight that hits you all at once.
I hope I never take it for granted.
killer puppy tails 