Marley & Me

I just finished reading Marley & Me by John Grogan. It was such a wonderful tribute to a dog that I couldn't help but remember while reading it all the crazy antics of my family's dogs throughout my childhood.

I can't imagine dealing with the responsibility of owning a dog right now on top of the three kids and a baby on the way, but in other ways I'm impossibly sad about my kids not having those types of memories that only a dog owner can have. If things go as they are, they won't know the joy of a crisp autumn walk with a panting, excited dog by their side. They won't realize the satisfaction of training a dog and seeing the fruits of those labors. Somehow, the idea of curling up on a sofa with a dog at your feet and a good book in your hands seems like something few should miss.

Of course, of course, my kids are showered with good memories and I suspect looking back as adults they won't feel they've lacked much and, if they do, perhaps they can get their own dog someday. But after reading such a touching tribute to a badly behaved Labrador Retriever, it's hard not to think that a beloved family pet is worth the sacrifices it requires.

2009 Blogging

I think a common New Year's resolution of bloggers to to put more effort (and posts!) into their blog. I don't know that I ever verbalized that thought, but internally I thought to myself that maybe, new year, new blog commitment. And I think I meant it.

But then the first trimester of this pregnancy kicked in in earnest and I spend each day counting the hours until bedtime and feeling queasy all day long. Somehow blog posts entitled "Morning Sickness Strikes Again!" don't seem terribly interesting.

I'm still here. Eight weeks pregnant with an ultrasound picture of the baby and its beating heart hanging on my refrigerator and ridiculously and miserably sick. This too will pass and, I suspect, hardly remembered in the years to come. But for now it's interfering with any desire I might have to blog.