“Mother,” I thought back to it, as clearly as I could, “I would like one of your eggs.”
― Steven Brust, Jhereg
“What,” she asked, “do you offer it?”
“I offer it long life,” I answered. “And fresh, red meat without struggle, and I offer it my friendship.”
“And what will you ask of it?”
“I will ask for aid in my endeavors, such as are in its power. I will ask for its wisdom, and I will ask for its friendship.”
Buying a dog is like buying a tragedy, or so some say. And there’s certainly some truth there. From the moment you bring that animal into your life, you know two things: (1) you’ll become attached to it; and (2) it will almost certainly die long before you do.
But I also think the transient nature of our pets is what makes them so special. We know they won’t be around forever, and cherish them all the more because of it. What’s more, there’s a rare beauty in the bond created by choosing such a relationship. When you bring that animal home, you’re saying to it, “You don’t have to worry for the rest of your life. I’ll take care of you.” And for that, they give us their unconditional loyalty. That’s powerful.
Tennyson’s famous, age-old question is also implicated here: Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? The millions of dog owners throughout the world make the answer clear. And, really, it isn’t hard to see why. “The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog,” said Mark Twain. I don’t necessarily share Twain’s cynicism. But then again, I can think of many more animals I’d rather spend time with than I can people. So…
Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.