First comes love, then comes marriage....

"I've never raised anything" I told him, so he let me have the puppy. A token perhaps, for the hand I provided in rearing his two sons.
So now I have Winslow, several books, and my first roll of paper towels in years. Such an innocent beginning for all of us. My border collie- Spot- was patient and playful. We layed on the floor and tossed, tugged, & toyed with a puppy that now ruled every room in the house. His ears smelled like cinnamon to me and the endearing habit of hiding his nose in any armpit, crotch, or knee fold made me feel motherly. "Awwww... puppy, snuggle on in here." Exuberantly, he ran toward any voice that called and instantly became the licking happiness that everybody loves. Simply adorable.
Winslow's beauty still illicits more comments than my sometimes shy self cares to respond to, and he still rules most rooms, but I have learned that raising something does not complete a person and that a puppy, no matter how incredibly cute, needs a firm momma first- and a ear scratching second. Hard to do when those eyes are glad you're home again...