Let me tell you about Carmy.
Carmy is our dog. He is beloved, he is dramatic, and he is fully convinced that every decision made in this household should be run by him first. He has a favorite spot on the couch -- mine, specifically -- a strong opinion about what time dinner should happen, and the ability to look profoundly betrayed by very minor inconveniences.
He is also, if I am being completely honest, a little bit spoiled. This is entirely our fault. Three kids who thought he hung the moon from the day we brought him home will do that to a dog.
Carmy's Daily Life
Carmy's day is carefully structured around his own preferences. He wakes up when we wake up but makes it clear this is not his preferred schedule. He supervises breakfast from a respectful distance that is also somehow underfoot. He watches us all leave for school with an expression of profound betrayal, then finds a sunny spot and is immediately fine.
When I Get Home
When I get home from school he is at the door before I have my key out. Every single day, without exception. This is the best part of my afternoon and I will not hear otherwise.
Carmy and the Kids
All three kids have a different relationship with Carmy and all three of them are correct that they are his favorite. E was always his calm person -- she would sit and read with him draped across her lap for hours. P is his adventure person -- they go outside together, they wrestle, P is the one who taught him every trick he knows. A is his comfort person -- whenever anyone is upset in this house, Carmy finds A. I do not know how he knows but he always does.
Carmy and Me
I am his person. I know this because he told me, in the way dogs tell you things -- by always being exactly where I am, by sleeping on my side of the bed when I get up in the morning, by sitting on my feet while I grade papers. He is also the reason I cannot have a phone call in my own house without someone asking who that dog is.
Carmy's Greatest Hits
He knocked the Christmas tree over twice before we figured out the fishing line anchor system. He once ate an entire stick of butter off the counter and was deeply unwell for a day and learned absolutely nothing from the experience. He is afraid of plastic bags but not thunderstorms, which is the opposite of what you would expect. He has never once in his life sat in his own dog bed when there was an alternative available.
The Bottom Line on Carmy
He is chaos and comfort and pure joy wrapped in fur and dramatic energy. Our house would be quieter without him. It would also be significantly less good.
-- Christin Marie (and Carmy, who did not contribute to this post but would like full credit)