my favorite line in because of winn dixie:
sweetie pie thomas sucks on a lozenge, winces, then spits it out and says…
“that tastes bad. it tastes like not having a dog.”
i forget how great it is to have dogs when i yell at sophie for barking at the doorbell…and when it consequently wakes lainey up from a shoulda-been-two-hour, twenty-minute nap. when i have to clean off latte’s poop-encrusted tail again. when i’m exhausted and just hit the couch to be met with big take-me-out eyes. pee piles. running out the door late after mad-dashing to find something else to wear because the black dress i intended is covered in shed hair.
i forget.
but just for a moment.
until i see her unbridled joy from chasing them.
the secret language they share. their understood, unspoken love.
the way they put up with everything she dishes on them. like imprisonment to the shower to be washed and sudsed on one of her whims.
she loves her gagoos.
and it makes me love them all the more.
so it was on our little bike ride, down to the big lake with the big tree and the big field…and the little dog last night.
she loves them. and they love her. and without them…life wouldn’t taste quite so good.
you tell ’em, sweetie thomas.
~k
Lainey’s great grandpa, who I am sure has a dog in heaven, once said–in that confident, been-here-forever voice, “Never trust a person that doesn’t like dogs.” And, by jove, I believe the man spoke the truth. Yes, a dog really should complete and complement childhood–it is that connection they can count on, that cauldron of compassion and understanding they ladle deeply from and that living, loving warm afghan of love they are consoled by. Bless those dogs for all they endure from her, and all they enrich her with!
What a wonderful thing to see. Lainey running and smiling with her little dog. Taking care of her like a baby doll.
Awww, those are some good pups!
Oh, there ain’t nothin’ like the sweet lovin’ of a furry little. What a good,good dog little latte must be, who obviously loves his Lainey to pieces. Good Stuff.
P.S.-I’m thinkin’ there should be a little bit o’ fun in your mailbox today 🙂
so sweet. makes me want a dog a little bit:)
love the pic of her arms up in the air and while she’s looking up and laughing!
Yum!
that little picture four pictures up of Lainey and her pup is one of my favorites ever that you have taken of her.
yay for dogs! they are the best and, I agree, Margot and Alice’s relationship makes my love for both of them richer.
Your photographs are stunning. Your daughters are beautiful. And your words are moving. I stumbled upon this blog and can’t stop reading it.
I wish California was closer to Florida so I could hire you to snap gorgeous photos of my little family.
This post in particular really touched me. I can’t wait to watch my 4 month old daughter play with our two yorkies when she’s Lainey’s age.
Thanks for blogging. 🙂