Stanley

Well -
we did it.
A bit quicker than I had thought we would
But nonetheless...

We got a new puppy.
His name is Stanley.
He's freakin' adorable....
And is wearing me out.

This puppy was meant to be ours.
We weren't going to get one so soon...
We were going to wait until after we returned from our vacation
OR
Until next spring.

And then Jack's football coach had a litter of golden retriever puppies right here in Andover.
We had to check them out.
Out of the eight or nine puppies in the litter (I lost track)
Both Jack and I were drawn to the puppy-with-the-green-collar...
He was mellow but spunky
And he let us hold him on his back and pet his tummy.

After meeting him, we knew he was our Stanley.
We decided to get him
And because Dawn and Kyle offered to watch him while we were in San Diego,
We got him two days later.

I don't remember puppies being this much work.
Apparently I was younger and more able to handle the responsibility.
Or maybe it is just that I have more responsibility now
So it just feels like more.

Whatever is the case,
this puppy is amazing.
Damn dog won't sleep in his new state-of-the-art-kennel
So I had to get Bailey's old kennel out of the rafters.

Apparently this did the trick.
Perhaps it is because Stanley feels Bailey's spirit in the kennel.
Or maybe I do.

All I know is that a new puppy doesn't make me miss my old dog any less.
Having a new puppy is a wonderful diversion...
But I still wish Bailey was here so he could meet Stanley
And so Stanley could meet him.

They would have loved each other.

I sometimes feel disloyal to Bailey by bringing Stanley into our family.
But then I think about life...
And how Stanley somehow carries Bailey's spirit with him.

I know we made the right decision.
But
Damn...
I need to get some sleep.