I wrote about how Lily dog came to visit over Christmas when friends Shirley and Tyler went back east for the holiday. Well Tyler’s sister was getting married in the middle of April and Lily came to visit again — this time with some VERY heavy hinting that she should become a permanent resident. Don’t miss understand — Tyler adopted her years ago and has liked her as much as his somewhat short attention span can. And Shirley has always considered Lily her ally and special girl. But they have a toddler and he is a rough and tumble boy. Lily is old and doesn’t enjoy the bother of having her hair pulled, etc . And they Tyler decided he wanted a “guard dog,” which Lily apparently is failing at in her elderly years. So they adopted Merlin — also a collie but kind of dumb and spastic. Lily was not impressed. In fact, she was increasingly becoming distressed, to the point of stress grooming big holes in her fur on her arms.

So she came to visit at my house while Tyler and Shirley went to Georgia. I said that I would consider keeping her and we would call it a test run. I confess I am nervous — I am responsible enough for her? Will taking her for walks be too much of a bother? Will she hate being left alone for 10 hours while I am at work? She is old and could get sick. Am I walking into a money pit shrouded in my love? Is this really best for her? Hem-haw.

Turns out she needs me and I need her and that is that. And she is here to stay. She makes me be responsible and helps me feel loved. She is the best thing in my life. I love my Lily-girl.

So many rugs to sit and shed on.

Her favorite trick is to rest her chin on the side of my bed and whine when she thinks I should get up. She HATES it when I read in bed before getting up in the morning.

She loves to be outside with me. Depending on the time of day, she will sit in the sun or the shade and watch me work. I always have to be in sight, unless she is getting into mischief such as pooping in the neighbor’s yard or meeting a dog friend on a walk in the front yard.