Boy does time fly. Seems like just yesterday, I went down to south Jersey and drove him home to Manhattan. Seems like just a minute ago I was pushing him around the Upper West Side on a pile of blankets in my little wheelie grocery cart. Gosh, that first day, I brought him home, carried him from the parking lot on 60th St to my apartment on 71st St, introduced him to the doormen, brought him into my apartment, and watched him sniffing around, thinking, geeze, now what do I do??? And now, my little furry soul mate with the psychic eyes and the goofy grin and the fabulous singing voice is dog of five, and I can't imagine my life without him. Now we live in rural CT, his picture hangs in the back of the local post office (because the postal carrier thinks he's cute, he"s not on the "Most Wanted" bulletin board), and he is the star of his beginning agility classes (of course, that's just according to me. Other students might see it differently....). He came in second in the local Best Dog in the World contest (okay, I kinda stuffed the ballot box) and is a fixture around town (all the stores keep dog cookies handy). I've made so many friends up here because people come to pet and visit with Bertie, or come to share stories of their dogs. People actually remember me because they noticed him, hahaha! No matter how low I feel, a happy grin, a lick, and a cuddle, and I miraculously feel better. Life is good, all because Bertie came to stay. Happy Birthday, my little bubby dog, and many more.