I’ve said it before and it bears repeating: parenthood isn’t a title, it is a long term process of applied heartbreak. It is an exquisite, beautiful heartbreak, but it provides a necessary lesson in letting go of nostalgia for the sake of the moment.

I say this — and here’s the relevance to the puppy hunt — the evening “nice walk,” a tradition begun when Julia was about two, used to be a chance for Dad and daughter to hang out a bit after dinner and before bath. Taking puppy pictures sprung from that. Of course, now Benny is of “nice walk” age, and it has really affected how we go about our hunts for the puppies of Jenkintown. Continue reading