Soft. Sleepy. Tender. I look at him, and I soften. I bury my face in the top of his head, which will forever smell like puppy, just like Dexter’s did.

Treasures. When Ringo was younger, his favorite toy was a water bottle or milk jug or juice container. He loved to chew and chase them. His teeth are too big now, jaws too strong, but when he finds one on a walk, we let him carry it. Today’s find was a tennis ball, which he carried for a mile, until he got distracted by some dogs and left it behind. He is one of my treasures.