This is Gracie…my family’s dog and my dog throughout most of college. She now lives with my parents because she would not have adjusted to city life very well. Of course, if it had come down to it, I would have taken her with me, but she bonded with my parents and loved their backyard–and as much as it broke my heart, I didn’t think it was fair to her to take that away. Sure, she would have adjusted to city life…but she wouldn’t have been nearly as happy as she is with my parents. Besides, they have the money to spoil her ROTTEN. This dog gets pig ears like EVERY DAY with them.

Back in college, I was living across the hall from Liza and Maddie, who back then had no fear of dogs. I have no idea what happened to this kid, but she’s terrified of them now! And she used to call Gracie “Wacie”. She’d come toddling into my apartment and wake me up at 7am…on a Saturday…Liza’s revenge to me for teaching her ‘nipple’ probably…and go, “Where’s Wacie? Where’s Wacie Aunt Cayeen?”  And when she found Gracie, she’d throw her arms around the dog’s neck as Gracie covered her face in slobbery kisses. They were totally buddies. Except for when Gracie would chew Maddie’s toys…on those days you would have thought the kid swallowed battery acid by the way she reacted. Like it was THE END OF THE WORLD BECAUSE OH MY GOD YOU GOT SLOBBER ON THE BARBIE DOLL. Never mind the fact that you shared an ice cream cone with the dog minutes ago because HOW WILL MALIBU BARBIE SURVIVE WITH SLOBBER IN HER HAIR.

In any case, Maddie still asks about Gracie and it seems like the only dog she thinks of fondly anymore.

When I was home visiting, I took some portraits of Gracie…because, let’s face it, she’s getting old. Her hip is bad and she can barely walk the stairs down to the yard anymore. Sometimes we have to carry her down there. And while this would under most circumstances cause most dogs to become cranky and tired-not my Gracie. She still plays with the youth and vigor she did when she was only a puppy. And it makes me smile.