I will never be able to resist this face

Through all the turmoil, Facebook Memories today gave me this photo that I posted five years ago with the caption, “I will never be able to resist this face.” I reposted it with the new caption, “Still true.”

Even five years ago, when Willow was almost 7 years old, one of the many reasons my heart melted was knowing our canine friends have a limited time on this Earth and a day will come that she is not there to rest her chin on my armchair or knee. I will always cherish these moments.

My absolute favorite movie of the 21st century is Arrival, which on the surface is a wonderful story about finding a way to communicate with someone completely different, on a deeper level is a great story about learning to trust people we are not inclined to trust, and on its deepest level is a brilliant story about choosing to love in the face of inevitable tragedy.

When we adopt a puppy, we expect that one day we will say goodbye to an old, beloved friend. It’s part of the package. Our expected lifespan is about seven times the lifespan of a dog.

But we embrace that choice, also expecting that the tradeoff for the tragic ending is an unforgettable and completely worthwhile love story.

I will never be able to resist this face, even knowing my heart will be broken someday. It’s part of the deal, and I embrace it fully.

Published by WarrenBluhm

Wordsmith and podcaster, Warren is a reporter, editor and storyteller who lives near the shores of Green Bay with his wife, two golden retrievers, Dejah and Summer, and Blackberry, an insistent cat. Author of It's Going to Be All Right, Echoes of Freedom Past, Full, Refuse to be Afraid, Gladness is Infectious, 24 flashes, How to Play a Blue Guitar, Myke Phoenix: The Complete Novelettes, A Bridge at Crossroads, The Imaginary Bomb, A Scream of Consciousness, and The Imaginary Revolution.

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