Hi everyone, welcome to Thanks for being here, a short weekly pod to remind us of the many essential

and beautiful ways we affect one another. Every Sunday I'll read a submission from a listener

of Kelly Corrigan Wonders, could be wedding vows or about

mitzvah toast, a eulogy or retirement speech.

We believe this is probably the loveliest way to tap into our better selves and remember our highest values.

We encourage you to share this podcast each week with one person you love, maybe someone

you miss and need to bring closer,

someone you want to feel your appreciation or admiration or both.

This is thanks for being here is about a dog and a girl who was sick. This is a passage from Jessica Fine's book. It's called

breathtaking, a memoir, a family dreams and broken genes. I've never been a dog person. I didn't grow up with a dog

unless you count Roger, the dog who lived with us for 18 hours until he

pooped on our living room floor and my father brought him back to the store

claiming he was defective and asking for a refund.

Rob and I together had raised a golden retriever named Mogley.

I tolerated him but we never bonded.

Once when we returned from vacation and I went to pick up Mogley at the doggy hotel,

they gave us the wrong dog.

It took me 20 minutes to realize the mistake. During our three month stay in the

hospital, a volunteer brought a therapy dog into our room every Thursday to

play and snuggle. The dog sat up and put its feet on Dahlia's bed,

waiting for the treats Dahlia loved to dole out.

Another, Dahlia would say, smiling and reaching out her hand to get one more treat.

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