We have lots of sunshine this morning, and that helps in the grief management process. The past several days have been dark, which really tends to add to a gloomy attitude. I'm beginning to remember our routines together with happiness rather than loss. Usually I drive our "walk route" at least once a day because it's the only way out of our neighborhood. For a long time it bothered me because "walkies" was one of our favorite times together. But last night my wife and I decided to go to DQ after dinner. I found myself smiling at different points along the way. There was the particular evergreen tree where Wink paid extra attention, sniffing around and sticking his whole head into the tree. He looked so funny, standing there with only his body sticking out of the tree! There was another three which must have been a favorite target of big dogs because that was where Wink would stick his nose high in the air, sniffing the branches he could reach with his outstretched nose. That would go on for a while, and I would always say, "Yeah, WInker, that's where the big boys pee. You know that already. Let's get going." He would look at me, take another sniff, and then we'd move on. He was a snoop. He had to sniff everything. But when he was ready to go back home, it was high gear all the way. When I was in rehab after heart surgery, I told the therapist that Stinky Wink was better for cardio-workout than any machine they had. The dark hours are beginning to fade a little and be replaced by sunny ones. There are enough happy memories to fill a lifetime. I love you, my besses puppo, and I always will. I treasure the time we had together and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my friend and companion. I miss you.