Dakota, my big malamute, is straining at the leash, pulling me forward.  But Jessica, my young daughter, is dawdling ten steps behind. As usual, Taz and I are caught in the middle.  Taz, my mid-size, part-cocker spaniel, part-chow mutt, stands patiently by my left foot while I sort the others out.  I tell Dakota,…

I wrote this during Jessica’s recent hospital stay, so don’t worry, she’s not back in the hospital.   We are in Jessica’s hospital room and she is in pain, but it’s an hour before she can have any more meds, a fact that I don’t argue with the nurses over although honest to zeus you…

I am looking at the neurosurgeon’s business card. I’m supposed to call the number this morning to schedule Jessica’s surgery. I will talk to June, whom I have talked to before, and she will be very kind, and it will be very easy, in the sense that she will not be a pain in the…