This past July I lost my good friend, Piao Liang. She was a 16-year old Maltese. After her sister Mei-Li died in my arms several years ago, Piao was my constant companion and never very far from my side. She followed me around our home, sitting under my office desk or the kitchen table or wherever I happened to be working, reading or relaxing. For as long as she had the strength to walk up the steps we set up to give her access to our bed, she slept by my side or on my wife’s pillow above her head. Piao traveled with us from NY to Durham, NC many times sitting between my wife and I in the front of the car or on my lap on the plane. She seemed to enjoy the airline lounges and was always happy to munch on whatever goodies I could find.
I have always found dogs to be remarkable creatures. I have lived most of my life with them. As a young boy my family had a toy schnauzer. Later, after I was married, my wife and I had an enormous and very special Samoyed. He moved with us to London but sadly passed away shortly after our return to the US. After that there were roughly thirty years during which we had Maltese dogs — most recently Piao Liang.
I confess that for the longest time I thought that dogs were so special because they loved us unconditionally. And that is true. But I have come to believe that what is so extraordinary, uplifting and deeply satisfying is our capacity and desire to love them unconditionally. Your dog comes with no baggage — literally or figuratively. We love them because they are sweet, loyal, honest and respond without reservation to our kindness, generosity and concern.
Dogs teach us how we should and need to be.
I will miss you Piao.