The Joy of Dixie

Last month I experienced the greatest exhibition of joy I have ever seen: I was in an auditorium of middle school students on a Thursday night as the principal announced that an incoming storm had caused school for the following day to be canceled. What followed is exactly what you would expect: hundreds of students yelling, jumping, and high-fiving in genuine and enthusiastic revelry.

Perhaps the second greatest exhibition of joy in recent memory came today: Helen and I went to New Hampshire to pick up our new dog from the transport truck. What we found were over a dozen families eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newest member of their family. Once the truck pulled up, everyone circled around the door and oohed and ahhed as one cute pup after another was brought down the ramp and given a new home.

Dixie, our new dog, came from Arkansas. She is two years old and the mother of seven (she has since been spayed). She was apparently found with her pups in the parking lot of a "high-kill shelter." We found her on petfinder, filled out an application on Monday, and she was on a truck to New England on Thursday!

So far Dixie has been a perfect dog. She is great on a leash, hasn't barked once, and slept on the car ride home back to Worcester! We're sure she is still adjusting to her new home, but we feel very good about her excellent manners.