My Fur Children
I've been filled with an unfortunate sense of melancholia of late. It's not pervasive and it's not permanent, but still it's there. The reason for this melancholia is my dogs. My wife and I have eschewed having children and have instead opted for dogs. Our furry children fill us with joy and love us unconditionally. They don't give us attitude like bratty teenagers. They aren't going to go to college. They don't mind being left home alone. They're a great addition to our carefree and footloose lifestyle. We love them like we would any child. Unlike most parents, though, we are virtually guaranteed to outlive them. Our dog Baby is a chow mix and she’s 12 and a half years old. Most of the time, she’s happy and full of life, but, somedays, she looks and acts as old as her age would dictate. The idea of losing her is very real and very sad. Our other dog, Bella is a 2 and a half year old labra doodle. Even though she is quite young, sometimes the realiz...