Man's Best Friend

Today, our dog Jax turns three. Jax was our COVID-19 puppy, which many can attest to, as evidenced by the surge in pricing we experienced. Life was hard during that time. We were locked down and needed something to shake up our lives. So, we decided to rent a car and drive west to Amish country in Pennsylvania for a couple-hour drive to purchase "Tuck," as he was listed. We immediately changed his name to Jax, or Jaxy as we love to call him. Wags was a very close alternative.

Lynn and I grew up with dogs and even had two early on in our marriage. One died, and we gave the other away. We loved them both. Sadly, our Puggle Duke died at the age of two from a random disease, which tore us up. The attachment was real. Our second dog, Louie, a Pomeranian, was sweet until Duke died, and we had kids. Jealousy crept in, and he began to tell us in his way that he was not fond of the attention we gave our kids. So we gave Louie away.

After that season, we swore we'd never get another dog because of the logistics around owning one. We had young kids, were busy, loved to travel frequently, and didn't want to deal with the many inconveniences of caring for a dog as we lived on the go.

During COVID-19, we threw all that logic out the window and leaned into our emotions, bringing Jax into our lives. Our daughter was begging for a companion, and deep down, I equally wanted one. It was a great decision. Lynn invested many early mornings with him during those early weeks. We had endless videos of playing with him in the apartment because there wasn't much else to do. He helped the time pass and was our entertainment. The inconveniences we looked to avoid are real. At this point, if Jax had his own SkyMiles account, he'd be flying the world for free. But he does not (come on, Delta), so he's also costing us a fortune.

One thing has remained the same through the many changes we've experienced over the last three years, the joy Jax has brought to our lives. He is the seatbelt you didn't know you needed whenever you sat down. He is the best snuggle buddy (aside from my wife) anyone could ask for. Every morning, it's like it's the first time he's allowed to show affection, and we are immediately attacked by his kisses, hugs, and tail wagging abusively. His loyalty runs deep, he embodies unconditional love, he's our travel buddy, a nap companion, caring, an egg and almond butter lover who would do almost anything for a treat. He would rival any human when it comes to a love for sunbathing. He snores, rarely barks, loves the snow, and constantly wants to be outside. He loves humans and is indifferent to other dogs. He loves each one of us and uniquely shows it in different ways. He really is man's best friend.

A value my wife has led the way in our family is celebrating milestones or moments of meaning. Today marks three years with this lustful squirrel and rabbit hunter. I now cannot imagine life without him. He is a part of our family and is worth celebrating today.