An Ode to Franklin

**This was orignally a Facebook post but I thought I would share it here too since some of you may not have Facebook.

Four years ago on this day, I was driving along as I spotted a woman in a run-down car attempting to dump a dog. The poor animal was skin and bones and had terror in his eyes. He looked more like a hyena than a domesticated creature. The woman wasn’t in much better shape, as she had one single tooth in her entire mouth and smelled worse than the dog. I decided to intervene and offer to take the dog down to the local humane society after the women claimed her car could not make it down the Mountain. On my way to the shelter, I called to alert them I was bringing a dog and was promptly told there was a three month waiting list to drop an animal because they were a no-kill shelter. I took a deep breath and thought to myself, “What the HELL have I gotten myself into?”

Fast forward to today. That malnourished, unappreciated, terrified animal is now my sweet baby Franklin, 20 pounds heavier and smothered with love every single day. He has been with me through so much these past four years: a heart-wrenching breakup, comprehensive exams, college graduation, my move to Nashville, job changes, marriage, buying a house. I’ve been unsure of so much as I transitioned into being a “real adult,” but my one constant has been Franklin. When I’ve had too much to drink, he knows it and will sleep beside my bed all night. When I’ve had a shitty day, he knows it and stays close by my side. When I get emotional during a sad movie, he knows it and will literally come lick the tears off my face. It is almost scary how this creature is so in-tune with my emotions. Franklin knows me better than anyone else and I am eternally grateful that we met each other on this day four years ago. Obviously I have no idea what day he was born but I celebrate him today and always. I love you Franklin.