Following The Puppy Diaries
After my mother's death, my father decided that his lonliness and grief could be assuaged (somewhat) by adopting a pet. He did, and that pet was a cat: feisty and misbehaved.
However, if your choice later on in life for any reason, is a dog, Jill Abramson, the news managing editor of The New York Times, has started a series centering on the first year in a puppy's life, The Puppy Diaries.
"That soft fur, those floppy ears, that quizzical look that draws an "awww" from the most hardened cynic. Yes, puppies are cute."
"They are also a project that can require the patience of Job and the stamina of the most selfless parent."
"Puppies tie you down, drag you out for a walk even when it's sleeting and sink their tiny teeth into your favorite shoes. They offer boundless love, granted unconditionally. They also provide their share of frustrations."
The series can be followed online.