Today’s Small Act Of Great Kindness – I seek to commit one every day – was to bring a DVD of My Fair Lady to Georgianna and her friends at the Mansion, they love to watch old classic movies. I also brought cookies for the Mansion aides and gave Georgianna the pair of jeans she requested and I ordered a small cardigan sweater for Bert.

Fate and I were asked to welcome Joanne, a new Mansion resident, and a great dog lover. She and her daughter begged me to bring Fate back or any other dog I have. No begging necessary, I said, you’ll see a lot of us. I was happy to see the relief on the face of Joanne’s daughter. You can do a lot of good with dogs in an assisted care facility.

Georgianna was sleeping on the Great Room couch when Fate and I came in and she made a beeline for Georgianna, who saw her coming. The two hugged and kissed like lost lovers and it is a joy to see how much love is coming out of Fate these days.

She is already very much loved at the Mansion. I am eager to bring Zinnia to them on Wednesday or Thursday (Wednesday I’m hoping to take her to Bishop Maginn, the students there are very eager to meet her. Sue Silverstein says they are driving her nuts about Zinnia.

Of course, this is mildly controversial, several people have written me to warn that Zinnia is young and susceptible to germs and other and to expressed concern that I will kill or damage her in some way.

I bit only once and wrote that it was patronizing to offer me advice I don’t want or need, and that I have gotten and rescued and bought many puppies in my life and written many things about them, and was happy to report I had yet to maim, damage or kill one.

I do not, as a matter of moral principle, traffic in warnings. I don’t give warnings or heed warnings (unless they deal with blizzards in the winter. There are enough warnings in our world, there are armies of Gloomy and Fearful people out there.

I even shovel snow every chance I get.

Don’t ask me to treat Zinnia well or keep her safe. Ask me how I am going to love her and make her happy and do boundless good with her. I’ll be happy to talk about that.

Put your minds to rest, warning givers, Zinnia will not be harmed or damaged or endangered in any way. I guess I ought to say thanks for caring, but what I’m thinking is don’t send me messages like that.