13 years

it was 13 years ago today that ivan said goodbye to his friends at the humane society on 59th st. and headed 4 blocks south  for his new home at 340 e. 55th street.  he was wearing a little yellow rain coat that the staff gave to him as a farewell gift.  i remember our walk down second avenue like it was yesterday. while holding his leash in my right hand, bursting full of puppiness, ivan sped down the avenue while i tried to keep up, schlepping his crate stuffed full of his belongings in my left hand.  the entire way home i kept thinking  “wow, you’re mine.  you’re going to live with me.  i have a dog.  you’re mine.”

funny how i thought he belonged to me.  it didn’t take long for me to realize that he didn’t belong to me at all, but i belonged to him. he stole my heart and now owns it completely.

ivan, december 8th 1999

he was the cutest thing i ever saw.

ivan’s first day at home

and he still is!  happy day boo!

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ivan, december 2010

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ivan, e. 52nd street, 2012

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“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”
– Helen Keller

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