Dear Emma, I decided to post this message to you on my blog, as we text much more often than we talk these days.

I am big on change, as you know, but I have to confess I miss talking on the phone to the people I care about in my life. In a few years I suspect there won’t be any telephone calls at all, our smart phones will do all of our communicating.

I wanted to tell you that Pearl is great. I have to be honest, I don’t care much for having four dogs, it is hard to pay attention to any of them when you have that many, at least for me, and I feel like there is a large and attentive herd following me around all day. Lots of dog, lots of dog smell, lots of dog hair.

Red does not seem to notice that Pearl is here. Lenore is delighted and she and Pearl hang out, two sweet Lab cousins trawling for disgusting things to eat in the yard (there are many). Frieda seems quite content around Pearl, she is not trying to eat her, as she did when they first met. Frieda is the same age as Pearl roughly, the perhaps Pearl has mellowed her a bit.

I know you Miss Pearl, the two of you are a walking embodiment of attachment theory (I told Jay this says a lot about me as a father, but he didn’t seem too interested either) and I know it helps you to see photos of her every day, so I try to send you some Instagram photos and e-mail you some on the phone. Pearl sleeps at the bottom of the stairs, is eating heartily (her food and anybody else’s she can get near). In the morning, she takes the sun with the other dogs, the rest of the day she snores loudly in my office. Did you mention to me that she shores?

Several times a day, she comes over to me and does the Pearl swoon, but I say, “I am not Emma, sweetie, and there are a lot of dogs here, so forget it.” Maria, on the other hand, drops to the floor and rubs Pearl’s tummy. Pearl is a dog of entitlement, but so are the other dogs around here, so she has to get in line.

More posts to come.

So go on your vacation, have a good time. Pearl is in good hands, she is the Queen Victoria of dogs, she gets what she wants and needs. She is doing very well. I am taking her for short walks each day and she seems to be enjoying them. Pearl is a great dog, and like any good champion, she is a presence wherever she is. Next Sunday, she will be getting her belly rubbed by hundreds of people at the Open House. I’ll e-mail you some photos.

Don’t worry. She gets food, water, treats and attention all day. Much of the night too.