When I’m this sad, it actually hurts to smile.  It’s like I feel guilty to even break through the grief because it feels like what I lost deserves so much from me.  And in this case, two new lives that have stopped so abruptly.  I don’t know if it’s that nobody can force a smile out of me when I feel like this, or if my mind is too stubborn to let it happen because it just doesn’t feel right.  But somehow my dog can break through the sadness and make me forget about it all for a minute and just be there in the moment with her innocent goofiness and sweetness.  I can’t help but smile and giggle a bit.  Somehow I think she can feel that I’m sad.  She follows me around and snuggles with me and makes silly noises to get me to play with her.  We rescued her and she returns the favor every day.  Rescue a dog and a dog will most certainly rescue you right back.

Photo by CJE