When was the last time that you received a real letter in the mail? Perhaps members of the youngest generation will never experience this archaic phenomenon. I still feel a special excitement when I see a neat stack of letters or cards addressed to me. I love to open the envelope and reveal the words that were handwritten just for me by a friend or family member. However, I find all too often that the birthday cards are merely signed with the person’s name and that letters are all too often just bills. Has the art of the written word died with the invention of email and social networking sites? I am appalled by the over use of acronyms and non-words like “u r” and “4 u” is it so hard to type the word “you”? And why does regular mail have such a bad rap? Is faster really better? Or is it just faster? Is it the cost of 50 cent stamps that has us deterred from mailing letters? Yet we’re willing to shell out around $50 per month to internet providers… that’s a hundred letters worth of stamps! So I argue that the thrill from receiving handwritten letters, notes or cards is far superior to the smile that comes when you see that familiar notice that “you’ve got mail.” So send a letter to someone you love, or like, or even someone you don’t like. Let’s give the postal workers something to strike about. I feel a resurgence of the romantic times when letter writing was the “thing” to do. Yet, I can’t help but wonder… was it because letter writing was the only thing to do?

Today I consider the magic of pets and they way that they contribute to the overall beauty and joy in your life. I want to share some beautiful mini schnauzer pictures (click for credits) and some ponderings...

Is it their attitude of curiosity towards all things or their genuine zest for life that makes them so enchanting? Although the work required having a dog can be tiring at times, so it is with any great friendship. The benefit of course far outweighs the cost. I often wonder if it is their love for us that we reflect back to them, and yet, whether the reflection is diminished somehow in its amount of light. Do we love our dogs as much when they pee on the carpet, chomp on the garbage or gnaw on our favourite shoes? I offer "yes" but with a pause. And so it is that dogs can teach us an enormous amount about how to live our lives and treat our friends... play often, forgive freely, love everyone and enjoy every belly rub that comes along. And we teach them, sit, down, stay, heel. It hardly seems like and equal friendship. I read something that really stuck with me about this fact, and it was something like this: "Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in the entire world is more grateful for your kindness than mine. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. After all, you have your friends, your job, and your entertainment. All I have is you." I can’t help but wonder… are dogs called “man’s best-friend” because they are better friends for us than we are to each other, and to them?