When I was little girl, my dog Lucy died leaving my dog Lilly as a lone pup. We decided to get another dog from the same breeder where we got Lilly – they’d be sisters! We drove to choose our new family member. Gracie was a little fur ball of white and I knew immediately that she would be ours. We took her home and she became my best friend.

She was always my best friend but eventually Gracie was my rock. When I came home from camp or even later college, Gracie was the one I looked forward to seeing the most. Not that I don’t love the rest of the members of my family, but Gracie and I always just got each other.

Here are some lessons brought to us by Gracie:

  • Be in the moment.
  • Don’t be afraid to be persistent.
  • Demand to be taken care of.
  • Don’t accept mediocre food.
  • Create firm boundaries.
  • Don’t accept “no” for an answer.
  • Throw yourself down on every sunny patch.
  • Stick close to your companion on the trail.
  • Only hear what you want to hear.
  • Sometimes the greatest adventure is right under your nose.

ILY, Gracie!