It is said of Lenore – and it is true – that if you look upon her, and you see her eyes, you will smile it is true. Try it. A man in Dallas went into open heart surgery with a photo of Lenore on the wall of the operating room. He went in smiling and came out smiling. She is the Love Dog. She spreads the message and joy of love everywhere she goes. She was my inspiration for love. I remember the bitter cold winter night when I was alone at Bedlam Farm and beginning to drown in my loneliness – looking for love in all the wrong places, as they say – that I took this puppy up to the bedroom and let her sleep on the foot of my bed, where she has been ever since. Lenore is the Supervisor of Love, she oversees love and revels in it. When love returned to my life, I was terrified of being seen, of exposing my  body to another human being. I remember closing my eyes in terror and looking over at Lenore, who sat at the foot of the bed wagging her tail, looking at me. It’s okay, I remember her saying. Love is good, love is right.

Lenore has always given me the strength to love, shown me how to do it. She taught Frieda and Izzy how to love, and countless other dogs and people. Even a donkey or two. It is a powerful force within her, she never lets go of it or surrenders it, as faithful to her work as Red is to his. She is a warrior for light and love and gentleness. This morning, I woke in the middle of the night and leaned over to kiss Maria on the back of her head, something I do in the dark, and there, on the other side, was Lenore. I heard the thumping of her tail, saw her soft eyes, her Lab smile, and I heard her once again. It’s okay. You can do it. Love is good.

Lenore is the Goddess of Love. Happy Valentine’s Day to her.