A new friend

I recently started a job three days a week where I am tasked with exercising an 18-month-old black lab named Delia. She is a well-behaved older puppy, and has been trained well. She and Annie are both a little anxious by nature, which makes them perfect running/walking/hiking mates. Neither one is too aggressive and both seem to be a little submissive to each other. It has been a dream job, which surprises me even as I write it.

One day in particular, we were out on the lovely river trail, sun was shining in January, both dogs were on a coupling leash and behaving quite well. I looked at those similarly sized dogs, one with stunning black fur and the other with soft light brown curls, walking side-by-side, and felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and peace. I don't think I was quite ready for this change in my thinking about animals until I was actually ready for it. It took me by complete surprise and continues to do so. But it has changed me in deep, unexplainable ways. My writing about it here is my attempt to convey that change to remind myself that I can change in all the other ways I hope and desire. And you can too.