Love.

I'm not thinking about love because valentines is approaching, although I did get a valentine in the mail from my friend who makes me one every year.  They're always quite beautiful, and I rather love the sentiment since she makes them herself. 

I am thinking about love because I bathed the dogs today and it is back breaking work. Laska is awful. She moans like a tortured pig the entire time and won't stand still for a brushing. I have dog hair in my mouth and my eyes feel like there is sand in them. There probably is.  

But then, there is Joe. He is like a extra long squirrel sausage. He loves being brushed, bathed, and pampered in any way that involves touching. He even enjoys a blow drying. He listens when I tell him what to do. He is short, so it's still back breaking work. 

They're different. 

You'd think I love Joe more, but I don't. I love them both so much my heart aches. I can't imagine my life without this pair of dogs. Laska was supposed to be my service dog, but she is the most disobedient dog I have ever owned. Lord knows how much money I spent on her training, but she's even an awful car passenger. Service dogs are much use if they can't ride in the car. She tries to attack passing cars and literally NEVER sleeps or stops whining. She is a more attentive passenger than most drivers I have seen. It's exhausting having her along. 

I love her majesty. She is playful and gentle with my grandsons. She plays soccer with my oldest grandson and fetch with the middle. She gets along with every dog she has ever met and rarely wanders far from the house. She is a loyal companion. Despite being able to notice these attributes, I am generally hollering at her and trying to get her to obey. 

Joe never leaves my side. He wants nothing more than to please me. 

They are polar opposites so I love them differently. That doesn't make me a bad pet owner because I don't enjoy them in the same ways. 

It's pretty much the same with my kids.