Thank you all for the love letters to poodles. As I sit on the couch early on a cool Saturday morning, cuppa in hand, and aging spoo by my side (having co-opted a throw pillow as a head rest, so that she can better keep an eye on my as I wander back and forth to the kitchen), I'm reminded of past adventures: farms with horses and goats; acres of woods surrounding lakes, rivers and streams; frozen tundra and bounding through knee deep snow; rocky deserts and prickly plants; and friends -- so many friends of all shapes and sizes, and especially the trio of spoo saplings that we spend time with even now during the pandemic. Each looks to her for guidance, checking in with her (not the humans!) on hikes, taking their cues from her even as they run circles around all of us. She can't keep up with them, of course, but she gives me a special smile during these rendezvous that I like to think means more than just "I'm happy," but also "Thank you."