"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers

A legend told by several Native American tribes goes something like this:

When the world was new and no one yet knew their place, God decided to divide Man from the other animals. He set Man on one side of a line and the rest of the animal kingdom on the other. Then he spoke and the line began to crack open. Soon it was a chasm, separating Man from all the rest.

At the very last moment, just as the chasm was becoming impossibly wide, Dog made a rebel choice. He dashed away from all the other animals and leaped across to join Man — where he has faithfully stayed forever after.

I have tried most of my adult life to understand the world we live in. The good and the evil that exist. Why are things more complicated than they should be (or at least why we make them that way)? I yearn for simplicity.

There are a lot of people suffering in the world today from diseases, accidents, horrible circumstances, etc. with COVID-19 being just one. Death is a part of life. I get it. Not sure I want to accept it but it is a fact of our existence. My hope for those suffering today is for peace on their journey.

But my thoughts today are to animals, especially dogs, and in particularly my daschund Conner. Conner will start his chemotherapy tomorrow in hopes of putting his cancer at bay, so that we can have him a little longer with us on earth to experience the love he has so unconditionally given to me and my family. And to top it off, tomorrow is Good Friday as well as the 10th anniversary of the passing of our first beloved daschund, Ju-Ju.

Dogs have given so much of themselves to mankind throughout history. Their loyalty and companionship have saved many of us over the years; me, many times. For this I am forever grateful. My life has been enriched by having my dogs. My family's as well.

So I wipe the tears away, stand up straight and force myself to be there for Conner even though it is difficult and sad for me. Afterall, it is what he has been doing for me his entire life and not once has he failed!