Essay seven, Dog Days, in this collection includes some lines about Blossom's arrival. My mother died. My career wound down. "This would be manageable," I muttered through the loops of the afghan pulled over my head, "if I had a dog." Like the wooden stools designed for children, four-legged companions keep me from wobbling too. The clear-cut needs of a dog provide balance to the complexity of human relationships. Being greeted with enthusiasm and affection is a bonus. An absence of five minutes or five days, the welcome's the same.

Yeah, and now she's gone. Another essay about her, Stitching, was written after the book was published. If you are a dog person, or trying to understand the dog person in your life, it's available for the asking.

I'm also revisiting and revising the loss playlist posted on my  In the Shade blog. If you are in need of comfort, you may find it one of those tender melodies.