Losing a Pup

Rest in peace, my sweet, sweet Lucy Rae.

Blanket hog, bed hog, lap hog, heart hog.

She was my inspiration for Roger, the little dachshund who starred in my first book, Crossing the Pressure Line.

She was my comfort while writing three manuscripts, raising three kids, and becoming an empty nester in August.

She was at my side (or, more accurately, in my lap) at nearly all times, asking for nothing but snuggles and maybe a treat. (Who am I kidding? She always wanted a treat.)

I think the love we have for our fur babies -- and the love they give us in return -- is among the purest and least complicated love we'll ever experience on this planet. Losing it (even when our pet's decline in health makes it feel inevitable) brings such sorrow, and I wonder how I'll ever finish my next book without Lucy Rae snoozing in her dog bed at my feet.

For anyone out there who has lost a pet, my heart goes out to you, because gosh -- this is rough.