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constant in our lives, or even the sound of a human voice. (Most young people text each other, and don’t call.)
    More and more, young people are doing independent studies in college, which is probably more interesting than sitting through boring lectures, but it removes them from daily contact with other kids their age. Similarly, many jobs are done by computer from home now, or businesses are started from home to keep overhead low, which again means no daily contact with other people. And the sudden appearance in recent years of online dating services is a strong indicator that peopleare having a hard time meeting. Romances begin and end online, often with too little contact in between. Texting has almost replaced the phone, so suddenly you don’t hear the voice of someone you care about. Young people actually end romances and “dump” each other by text. (What incredibly bad manners!!)
    We have lost a lot of contact with other living beings. (And I know for myself that I get far more work done at home, without distractions, than I ever did in an office, but it is much more solitary, and you meet fewer people that way.) The world has changed. And many young people prefer urban colleges and universities to campuses in rural areas. And once in an urban setting, they are alone in studio apartments at eighteen or nineteen, leading the lives that used to be reserved for twenty-three- and twenty-five-year-olds after college. For a multitude of reasons, many people are isolated now, have less opportunity to meet new people of either sex, at every age. And they need companionship in that void. A dog won’t change all of that, but it provides undeniable companionship, affection, and even humor in circumstances where people find themselves alone.
    I know that my own children, previously in urban colleges, and now in the early years of their careers, have derived enormous comfort from their dogs. Our dogs become an importantpart of our lives, not to replace people, but as an added solace and support system that is not negligible. To non-dog-lovers, that affection for their dogs may be hard to understand, but I think it has strong emotional and psychological value, which cannot be denied. And studies have shown that the elderly derive great joy from dogs too. We all need love, it doesn’t always come from the sources we hope for, but if it can be provided by a devoted, loving animal, what harm is there in that? For me, my loving puppy can really take the edge off a bad day, when she makes me smile or laugh.
    So although many people, or even some of my kids, may not have understood why I’d want the inconvenience of a new dog, it made perfect sense to me. And yes, any other living being in your life can be an inconvenience. But love is inconvenient, life is inconvenient, even a canary is inconvenient. (You have to clean its cage.) But along with the chores and responsibilities comes the incredible blessing of loving and being loved. It sounds like a good trade-off to me. And as someone wise said, “Love is messy.” What isn’t? A puppy is messy. But I think the “messy” part is worth all the great stuff that comes with it. My kids were “messy” too, my marriages and the men I was married to, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of the life I shared with them. But there is no doubt for me, thelove of a dog is a great consolation prize now that the kids are gone!!

    My current Brussels griffon, my favorite:
Gracie
Cassio Alves

    Ruby, one of my Brussels griffs

Cassio Alves
    So I began preparing for Minnie’s arrival. I felt considerable remorse toward my other dogs. Every time I left Gracie to go to Paris, she always looked so sad when she saw my valises come out, although I leave her with good people at my home to care for her. But I felt guilty not being able to take her or my other griffs with me. Try explaining to a faithful dog that she is three pounds over the weight limit for Air France! And introducing Minnie seemed