It always seems to amaze me that it is the end of another year, that being 2021, and I am still here. Bob is dead almost eleven years, and my brave forays into finding another relationship have only lead me to sad, sorry dead ends. Fortunately, the love for my borzoi, and the borzoi of my friends around the world, and now, my Silken Windhound, Kensie, from the kennel, WindNSatin, of Mary Childs, has given me the peace I crave. I will never get over the loss of my borzoi, and not just Opal, but all of them. I am too old and frail to live with this breed anymore, and living with a Silken is the best second choice I could have. It has been a difficult compromise, but then, my entire life has been spent living a difficult compromise. I have had to compromise so much I can scarcely remember where my starting point was and how I got here. But I know I have been authentic all of the time, true to myself and my beliefs. I do not compromise well so I can give myself credit for my successes and give myself blame for my mistakes. This is the only life I intend to have, so I must stop and take pause, and take care, for it is precious, for I know I am needed.