The Zoe Era

We had our old dog Zoe "put to sleep" in July. At age 17, she had outstripped my previous black-and-white dog Gretel, who died in 1991 at the age of 16.

We were all sad about Zoe, but it was especially hard on my husband, even though Zoe was my dog before I even met Rex. Zoe really took to Rex, and vice versa, when they met in 1995.

When I was hugely pregnant with my only child, I accused Rex of being in love with Zoe. Some might think it was just hormones, but you know what? I STILL think that! The difference between now and then is that back then, the hormones made me care!

Zoe never really had a chance with me, after my golden years with Gretel, whom I perpetually referred to as "the best dog in the world." Gretel really was perfect, if smelly, as all my friends will remember. She went to college classes with me, criss-crossed the country with me, saw me through my years of angst and craziness. Even today I still often use "gretel" in some form or other for passwords. It never occurs to me to use "zoe." Probably can't anyway, since it's only three letters!

Anyway, after Zoe died, the best I could muster was, "She was a pretty good dog." My husband would bristle. "She was a GREAT dog," he'd exclaim. To which I reply, pityingly, "You didn't know Gretel."

Anyway, two black-and-white-dog eras down, probably not more than one to come. I found myself online the other day checking out rescue dogs that look just like Gretel and Zoe. (Zoe was almost a carbon copy of Gretel, just a little smaller.)

Seems I just can't have a life without one.

BTW, the dog in the picture is Gretel. But it could just as easily be Zoe. Crummy crop job, but my mouse just would not cooperate.