When I need to smile I look at your picture. Any picture will do. The desktop computer in our office is Wallpapered with the basket of 7 our puppies. Those same 7 puppies you delivered on January 6, 2024. Opened up on the Desktop is the picture of you hugging our new puppy Holly on her first day at our home.

I remember that day, we were in the backyard and both sat on the grass introducing Holly to her new world. What a beautiful world and beautiful experience it was. You named Holly and you had unconditional love for her from minute one. Earlier in the day we picked her up from her birth house and we placed her in the back seat of our truck. Within minutes of our drive-off we needed to pull over because Holly kept whimpering and crying. You got out of the truck and went into the backseat with Holly to sit with her and you provided love and comfort to her for the duration of our drive home. Your love melted for her and it was beautiful.

We have many pictures and videos of our time with Holly while in the backyard on that first day. Sitting on the grass close together with our legs scissored out toward one another in v-formation so that our feet were matched and formed an enclosure for Holly to walk around in. I remember speaking her name out loud many times as we played with her along with her first tennis ball. She did her puppy waddle between us both as she ‘chased’ the ball and tried and tried to ‘get’ the ball. On that day, it wasn’t long before she was able to pick-up the ball with her mouth while she was between your legs, and then she trotted over between us toward me. I remember that.

When I need to smile I look at your picture. Any picture will do. Each photograph has its own memory and has its own story. There are many. You have left me many, many memories. Most of those memories are not captured in print or digital form, but that’s ok. You said throughout life that there are some moments in life not meant to be captured. Those are the moments we commit to memory and live within us forevermore.

I need to smile.