Part Six--Confessions of an Almost Dog Lover

Maddie is always thrilled to see me. Subtle she's not. If she could talk, she would say,"Where have you BEEN? I missed you. I needed to hear your voice. I needed you to pet me. I needed to tell you that I think you are the kindest, smartest, funniest, best human I know. Now, how about a snack?"

Maddie is always sensitive and understanding. If she could talk, she would say, "Why are your eyes raining? Why is your smile droopy? Come here and let me sit in your lap and lick your face...or you could give me a snack. That would probably make you happy."

Maddie is goal-oriented. If she could talk, she would say, "We have to get things in shape around here. I have been trying to keep some order, trying to keep the boys out of the fridge and the girls on task and nobody listens to me the way you do. Why, I haven't had a snack for at least ten minutes. So let's remedy that right now."