A wonderful friend of mine passed away this past weekend at the age of 93.  He was a strong, good, kind and gentle man, and his life exemplified all that is exceptional in the human spirit.  If there is anyone who could look back on a life well-lived and declare victory on this phase of his existence, it was Bill.  He wouldn’t do that, of course, because genuine humility was another of his many virtues.

Bill loved his dogs, and had owned one or more the entire 43 years I knew him, until physical frailty and mental decline moved him to assisted living and made it impossible for him to keep his latest love, a Dalmatian mix named Maggie.   I saw him for the last time about a week ago, and even with fading memory he talked with longing affection for his beloved Maggie, and how he was so grateful she was in a new loving home.

With all his love of dogs, I doubt even Bill could come up with a better tribute to the value they bring to our lives than this clip.

God made a dog