Four years ago, when I got my first dog, Maverick, many friends and family tried to tell me I was an insane person. "You already have three children, you don't need a dog!" "Dogs are so much work!" "Dogs cost so much money! Dog food is expensive!" "Dogs need lots of attention!" "When will you have time to walk him and play with him?" "What will you do when you want to go on vacation?" "You'll have to clean up accidents in the house!" (These people liked to use exclamation points, apparently.) Of course, I thought smugly to myself, but it will be worth it, because I love dogs and those things are all worth having a constant and loving companion.* In all of these discourses, one thing was left out. Not one single person mentioned this to me, and since this was my very first dog, it didn't occur to me. At all. In the summer and fall, I diligently and dutifully cleaned up my yard every few days...
Teacher and Mother, Walking the Path with Humor and Love