I Haven't Cried Over A Dog Since Seeing The Movie Old Yeller...

but, I'll shed plenty of tears when "Trip" is no longer looking towards the door to see Angie come to greet him. I had not thought much in that regard until I arrived home ahead of Vickie and Angie following our Thanksgiving travel and saw Trip standing at the lattice porch. His muscles taunt with anticipation and his eyes full of anxiety about why it was only Old Bill and not Angie that climbed out of the truck; and then he let out a whimper that made me feel it was absolutely necessary to explain to him that she was coming too and it would only be a little while yet. It was then I began to think about the deep affection I felt for this dog and how sorry I felt that I might have ever said a cross word to him or about him. It was then I realized that I loved Trip and why; that I loved him because he loved Angie and was simply never content unless she was where he could get up and come over to where he could get Angie's attention while looking for some approving word or gesture. I'm going to appreciate Trip more from now on and I'm going to treat him more kindly instead of that frequent cursory growl about staying off of me and not getting his nose against my pants. I'm going to appreciate him all the more now that I understand he's family.