Gary V. Powell, Author

In the nearly three weeks since Shelby's sudden and unexpected passage I've had some time to reflect on my years with her and my relationship with her. On my now solitary jogs and walks through Jetton Park, I've come to realize I learned a few things from Shelby over the years. I think I'm a better person for our relatively brief time together.

Food, Water, Shelter, and Love. Gurf Morlix, a much admired singer/songwriter, has a song by this title and it underscores and summarizes one of the most important things I learned from Shelby. So long as you have these basics in your life, little else really matters and you can pretty much get through anything. Early on, I learned that Shelby was not just satisfied with these things, she was happy. But that didn't stop her from asking for the occasional treat and in retrospect I wish I'd given her more treats.

Keep You Expectations High. Just because Shelby was happy with the basics, didn't mean she had low expectations. In fact, her expectations were often inordinatlely high. She always expected the neighbors, visitors, or outright strangers met at the park, to pet her. Shameless slut that she was, the more petting her cute tail wagging and posturing got her, the more she asked for. More often than not, her expectations were met.

Start Each Day Anew. Shelby never held a grudge. Even after I'd given her a hard time for stealing my turkey sandwich or creating a doggy door where in a screen on the porch belonged, she still gave me a new start the next day. As soon as my feet hit the floor upstairs, she slipped off the sofa. As soon as I rounded the bottom of the stairs, she came out to greet me. All that accumulated angst and anger will wear on a dog, or a man. It's probably better to let it go.

Stop to Sniff. On our regular walks to the park, Shelby sniffed everything. And not just the roses. Dog poop, tree stumps, and fire hydrants were favorites, but especially in her younger days, every nut, leaf, and branch held great interest. She was also especiall fond of dirty socks and used underwear. What you had to admire was her innate awe and wonder,  her attention to detail, and her appreciation of complexit in what appeared to be the simplest of things.

Live Every Day Like it's Your Last. The planners and left-brained project managers be damned.The amazing thing about biological life is the combination of its tenacity and fragility. One minute you or a loved one is alive, the next moment the spark is out. Forever. I've always been a firm believer in the philosophy of living to regret (or not) what you did,  not what you didn't do. Shelby's life and sudden death reinforced that for me. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the people you love and share space with. You and they are whistling by, literally at the speed of light. It can end in a flash. Don't leave anything on the field.