What my rescue dog taught me about waking up

A couple of months ago, my husband and I adopted a mixed-breed dog named Willy. He had bitten his former owner after she put a shock collar on him (truth be told, I would have bitten her, too) and she told the vet to put him down.

Our vet, knowing we were still grieving the loss of a dog, called me. It took about two minutes for us to fall in love with Willy and take him home. He's affectionate, earnest and quirky - a big personality in a small body.

Willy has taught me something I needed to learn - how to wake up in the morning.

I like to sleep in. He doesn't. Instead, he bounces - yes, bounces - awake on our bed. And then he hops over to me as if to say, "It's morning, Mom!!" If I groan and ask for a few more minutes, my face gets washed with kisses. Relentlessly. Until I get up. And when I do, I'm laughing because he's still bouncing.

Each day is a new adventure for Willy. I wonder if on some level he knows that, not so long ago, he didn't have many days left. We adopted him 24 hours before he was to be euthanized.

I'm so glad we did. Because even though we've given him a second chance family, he's given us far more. I've learned that laughing is a great way to wake up. And that it's much better to look forward to the adventures of a new day than to bemoan the loss of a few minutes of sleep.

Thanks, Willy. Here's to many more mornings that begin with laughs and hugs. And end the same way.

Jane Lynne