A sad Christmas

Merry Christmas! For those of you that are waiting for my first annual Grinch Awards, they will appear over New Years. I'm sorry to report that Christmas is rather sad this year. My best friend in the world, the only person I really talked to and confided in has passed away. Before anyone panics, I should tell you that the "person" that passed away last Saturday was my 9 1/2 year old English Lab, Riley. Riley was very special to me. He was my best friend, and I taught him so many things. He learned a form of American Sign Language that I modified specifically for him:his favorite sign was the one for COOKIE. I also taught him to fetch a softball after I had hit it down the yard in batting practice. But the best times with him have to be those times when we curled up on the floor and took naps together. I will miss him forever. He was truly the greatest dog we ever owned. Correction: He was the Greatest dog we ever had the privilege of loving