I have no idea how things will ultimately work out in my life, but I am happy to think that my heart will be the thing that will probably end my journey one day. Somehow, that seems both fitting and inspiring to me, my heart, I think, is what it is really about.

If I could choose  my ending, it would be that, my heart wrapping it up.

This week, I have  chosen to focus on gratitude, I think that is the general idea of the holiday, if we can still pluck the meaning out of all of the hype and discount selling. I hope the world is settling down a bit from the nervous breakdown we seemed to having the last two weeks.

I have been writing about Maria, and my gratitude for her presence in my life, and today, I’d like to give thanks for Red and Fate, two wonderful dogs who have enriched my life and my work, inspired me and  brought me and others so much joy.

Red, of course, is the perfect soul mate for me, loving, gentle, smart, versatile. A great working dog, a great therapy dog, he is loved by almost everyone whose presence he touches. Somehow, Dr. Karen Thompson recognized  that he and I belonged together, and I thank her for that.

She was correct, far more so than I could have imagined.

Seeing Red’s exquisitely sensitive therapy work, his patience with Fate, his working through injury and pain,  his gentleness and affection, I am just so lucky to have him.

He is always by my side, in support of me, guiding and accompanying me.

Fate is on the other end of the animal spectrum, she is Maria’s dog, more than mine, but she is a joy to both of us, bright, smart, funny, loving every second of her life. You just have to smile when you look at her, racing around the sheep, tearing through the woods, diving around the house with her toys.

Red is my spirit dog, my lifetime dog (another one) and Fate is simply a joy dog, her passion for life is infectious.

I have been so lucky in dogs, they have given me work that I love and made me a better human being, every one. Orson taught me the limits of love, Lenore kept love alive for me, Rose helped me to survive my move to the country, Izzy brought me into hospice work, Frieda helped to bring me and Maria together,  Red has opened me to new experience.

Fate’s story is not yet quite told, she is young.

Dogs do mark the passages of our lives, each one has challenged me to be more patient, to listen, to be more loving and open. The trainer who told me that I would have better dogs if I became a better human, was right. To have a great dog, you must learn to be a better human. I’m getting there.