Summertime fading...but good news was coming

My Dad, Nathan, Jenna, my Mom, and I in Bologna Italy 2003

As we morned the loss of our beloved dog Sherman, we all had to continue moving forward. For me it was really hard. I was miserable coming home and not having our "smiling" dog come greeting me, or have someone to sit outside with me when I came home from work. I started researching puppies and one afternoon suggested the idea to my mom. She was a little iffy at first, but when I explained to her that we need happiness in our life, and we all know that Sherman brought us happiness everyday she kind of understood. My moms cancer was like the elephant in the room. Though she never acted like that, we all knew it was there, and we all knew what it would/could eventually do to her. Sherman somehow someway always made her feel better, and made every member in my family feel better. After some cute pictures of golden retriever pups, my mom was sold. She was the easy one, my dad on the other hand did not want any part of getting a new dog. I found a great breeder not too far from us in Bridgewater MA and they had only MALE puppies left! It was a complete sign. I tried to convince my dad, but he still wanted no part. He wanted to wait until after my brothers wedding, but by then this litter wouldn't be available! Finally my mom put her two cents in. She said to my dad "You know Steve it would be nice for me to have some time with the new puppy" for the first time EVER she played the CANCER card. GO MOM! My dad caved.  The breeder wanted us to go and meet the puppies before we said yes, and my dad agreed to this, but was not 100%. On Thursday August 30th my Mom, Dad, Jenna, and I went and visited the puppies. They were adorable. We held them and played with them. At the end my dad was sold, and put a deposit down for us to pick up our puppy Saturday September 15th! We were ecstatic. Things were starting to look up! My mom was feeling good, and we were going to have the pitter patter of paws in our home again. It is important to know that we were not trying to replace Sherman. Sherman will NEVER EVER be able to be replaced, we were simply trying to find the happiness of another four legged friend....

Nathan, Me, Jenna and Sherman our 2004 Christmas Card

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is somethingyou design into the present."