Three puppies came bounding into the meeting room, pinging around its four corners with carefree joy and boneless energy.

They paid us no mind as we sat “criss-cross apple sauce” on the floor in a circle.

Even when the pups took turns landing accidentally in one of our laps, they kept their eyes on each other as they scrambled away from our clutches to partake in this sibling circus.

My husband, daughter, and son had positioned themselves in a row across from me, spaced such that I could see each of their wondrous expressions without moving my head.

I wasn’t there under duress, but I didn’t think I was ready, even though nearly a year had passed since the four of us held similar positions to surround our beloved dog with love and tears as we said our last goodbyes.

My husband had been in agreement. He wanted to travel more freely, and a dog would hamper that. Not that we hadn’t gone........

© The Saratogian