To Anna, and my best friend

i recently read a facebook status that quoted Art Buchwald.
        "the best things in life aren't things."
i've heard it before, read it before, as i'm certain you have (whomever 'you' is, there may not even be any 'yous' ha!)
Anyway, i responded to this quote and said something to the effect of, "no, the best things are people...and dogs!"  (Which i still believe, a few days later.)  This is why. 

I'll start with my best friend.  he is shorter than me..significantly.  but...he has 4 legs! we both have a yapper.  and know how to use it.  we sit on the couch together, we walk together, we fall asleep on the floor together sometimes.  and don't tell, but sometimes he 'accidentally' gets a sip of a slurpee.  I never have to wonder if he loves me.  i know he does.  how?  i can be gone for 5 minutes and he still jumps just as high when i walk back through the door.  i'll come out of the bathroom and he's sitting on the floor in front of the door.  i can feel the warmth under my feet as i walk across where he was sitting.  and i love him.  because he doesn't judge me.  because i make special trips to Tim Horton's for his favorite snack.  a cookie of course.  he stays up late with me and wakes up early with me. he shares my cereal in the morning...watching The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  he's always there.  he's my little dog.  he's my best friend. His name is Stuart.  or Stu. or Stuie.  or Little brother.  or Stinky Pete Stu.  =)  I LOVE him.  so much. 

Here's to you, little dog, if you could read my blog, you'd read it over and over again.  but instead, you sit patiently at my feet, waiting for me to drop this piece of bread.  i love you the same, little man. 

To Anna.  you follow my blog and no doubt read it, too.  i followed you around too.  when we lived on the same piece of land in Lima.  when we served the same little school that effected us the same and in different ways.  i'm certain i shared with you how i used to avoid walking through the little part of office where you used to work...because i was afraid of you haha!  let's face it, there wasn't much i wasn't afraid of when i first started at Elim.  Then i got brave!!! not really...i worked for a mutual friend, Sarah Lehman! (i miss you too...) And I HAD to walk through there!  Then i worked on summer crew...and i saw you...a LOT.  and i was glad.  i went through a rough time, and you were there.  you asked if i was doing alright.  i opened up...but not too much.  you wrote me a note and it spoke to me greatly.  you shared your experiences.  you opened up your heart to me.  and i knew you would pray for me.  then i never avoided that little office.  then we were neighbors!!! you had me over for dinner, we hung out, and chatted.  a couple times.  then i smashed my car to bits.  and you offered your car (brave soul.) haha
then you moved.  then i moved.  but you still asked me how i was doing.  and you actually wrote back lol

you cared. and it made me feel good.  then we met at Tim Horton's on one of my spontaneous visits.  and we talked and caught up.  you spilled coffee (or A.J. did =)  and you prayed for me.  then you blogged about what we talked about.  but you didn't use my name.  and i would have been fine if you had lol i read it every once in awhile.  Thank you for caring.

The best things in life aren't things at all...