Lenore has settled happily into middle-age, just as she settles happily into every phase of her life. She is the love dog, cheerful generous, still sparking smiles wherever she goes in just about everyone she meets. She has the revolting inner spirit of the Lab, scarfing up the leavings of other animals, from chickens to donkeys to deer in the woods. She has a stomach made of steel. Lenore is the only dog of ours who gets to sleep in bed and she is immovable and stolid there. At dawn, in first light, she rolls over to put her head on my shoulder or Maria’s, her tail thumping happily on the bedcovers. She eagerly awaits the day, filled as it is with opportunities to love and eat. There are some people who think Labs are dumb, but I think this is not so. They are very smart about the things they care about – attention, love and food. Lenore’s work has always been love.