This I believe

This I Believe is a national media project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives. I recently read an essay by David Buetow, an attorney from Chicago. His essay begins: "I believe in my dog." (For more, here's the link to David's essay.)

I thought about his words today while I was at the dog park. It was another sunny day in Salem and the park was full. Despite my previous gripes, I do enjoy seeing the park well used and well enjoyed. Gracie and I met two other Gracies. One was a yellow lab teasing the dogs in her area with a Wubba. The other Gracie was just 4 months old and it was her first visit to the park. You could tell by the way she stood close to her companion that she thought the park was big and loud and she didn't understand why these other Gracies liked to tug on the Wubba. When my Gracie and the yellow lab Gracie collapsed on the ground exhausted from the game, puppy Gracie inched over to the Wubba to check it out. What was this mysterious thing that was so captivating? At the last second my Gracie's big brown paw shot forward to grab the toy. Puppy Gracie scurried back to her companion.

I believe in my dog. I believe in the way she plays - full tilt until she collapses. I admire her ability to make friends with both other dogs and humans. She never waits for an invitation, but just knows that she'll get a pat and a kind word (and maybe, just maybe, a treat) from whoever is close by. I marvel at how gentle she is with puppies (and kids) and then how rough and tumble she is when playing with the big dogs. This once incorrigible puppy, has turned into an amazing dog. My amazing Grace.