Hearts fill up for Thanksgiving

Last week my wife, Barb, and I adopted Milo, an 85 pound one year old labrador mixed dog. We got him from the Hays Humane Society.

It was a big step for us.  We lost Indy in December 2023; then Kiah in January 2024; and finally our last love, Kobe, in May 2024. The three of them were best friends for many years.   We were devastated, and I felt like my heart had been emptied.

When trying to decide whether to adopt, we were asking ourselves:  Do we jump back into dog ownership again? Could we find a new dog that we would love like the last ones?  And maybe as impactful, could I take someday losing another dear friend?  

This is Thanksgiving season.  It is one of my favorite holidays; maybe my absolute favorite.  Why? It is so much about gratitude, families and giving thanks.  And it is so full of memories of past gatherings; parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends, who once graced the table but are now gone; memories of sitting down together with all the noise, laughter, and smells; of all the foods that we eat only that day, creating deja vu.  It is about appreciating what you had, what you have and what you have become.  

For three days in a row I took Milo to the sports complex in Hays.  There I could let him run free, with me checking and controlling him with only my voice.  On that third day, I was preoccupied with thoughts of work and other things.  So I was very quiet on our walk.  Milo would run out a distance, turn around and then trot back to me.  Then when we were about three fourths done, Milo was probably one hundred yards away.  He stopped, looked at me, and then sprinted all the way back. He started jumping up on me excitedly, as happy as he could be.  I think it was his way of telling me "I am so glad to be with you.  I am so grateful you adopted me.  I am so happy to have a home."  

I felt my heart filling up.

I hope this Thanksgiving season fills your heart with joy; that you have great reminiscing; that you feel grateful for your family and the time together.  

Happy Thanksgiving.