How does a creature wiggle his way into your heart? How does he remain there forever? How is it you just can't live without him? When he was born he didn't appear too spectaular-just one amongst several old english sheepdogs siblings. But within the next few weeks it became apparent he was unique. While the others grew and thrived, he remained so small that he could walk under his sibs legs easily. When Mom was loosing interest in nursing , he had to be held up to receive nurishment just to reach Mom who stood in the welping pen for only seconds before hopping out to avoid the others' claws and teeth. My instincts told me "Be careful ! Don't give your heart away too soon. This one's life may not be long on this plane.Keep your distance but encourage his tenacity to hold on."

Each day I couldn't help but fall more in love. Days grew to months and months to years. No he never did get very big, but he had enough fur on his little body for four or five sheepdogs! And smart? Why he learned to say "I love you" in his best attempts at our language , and he really knew what it meant.

He reminded me of the chap in the Bible "in him there is no guile." He was so sinless that he actually couldn't understand evil. So trusting that he couldn't conceive that anything given to him could be intended to harm him. I guess that was the reason he could so easily be poisoned.

I miss his cute little "Iffs" for barks. I miss his antics like the time he broke through the screening on my antique victrola (sp) to retrieve his ball. Or the times he pretended to have a throne in his paw just to get a little extra TLC.

I try to be positive and thank the Lord for honoring me with Wishbone's presence and selecting me as his guardian. I humbled at that thought. If His house is large and has many rooms, I still want to share one with my best friend when I'm called there. And I wish that time will be soon because I miss him terribly. If there is anything I could learn from Wishbone, I wish it to be how to be as endearing. How did he place a smile on everybody's face? And how do his pawprints remain in my heart?