It's a year ago today that we lost Jake, and this afternoon, Dave and I are scattering his ashes. He was a great dog, and all of you have been great about putting up with repeated posts about how much he's been missed around here.

Maisie in particular has been bereft, and just as we once got a tiny Labrador to help lonely Jake, I'm now thinking about a puppy (it has to be a puppy; Patsy the cat is 18 and is retired and she wouldn't be OK with a grown dog) for the Tiny Labrador. Or maybe a kitten. Or maybe both. (That thunk you just heard is a very nice French woman fainting in her house in St. Thomas.)

We're combing the shelters and rescue groups and trusting the same serendipity that brought us Jake and Evinrude and Patsy and Maisie will kick in once again.

You'll be the first to know.