Easter Baskets and Millie

When I bring groceries/bags home Heinze and Miliewould always put their noses into each and everybag to see what kind of goodies there may be in there. Millie still does that -  she puts her nose into each bag to sniff - one by one by one.  When I took the Easter toys/chocolate/stuff out of the bags for tomorrow's Easter Day festivities - Millie was right there watching intently andlooking pretty darned excited. She had to sniff everything and was right behind me every step of the way - literally - wagging her tail the whole time as if to say "What are we going to do now, mom?"  She loved it and so did I.  I'm finding my niche with Millie - or maybe she's finding her niche with me.  When she makes me laugh - sheclearly loves it - she wags her tail like crazy and almost hugs me. And something else is interesting - she has taken on the role of protector of the house and me.  Even people that have been here several times are suspicious to Millie now - and she barks at them wildly - before she calms down.   That used to be Heinze's job - not the wildly barking part however - but he was very protective - she has moved into that place.  Millie is not Heinze and she cannot replace Heinze - that's good. Only Heinze was Heinze.  But in Millie's own way she is becoming just as special to me on a whole different level - not a better level - just different.  Animals are amazing - they add so much to our lives.   Millie knows how to "catch" - "sit", "stay" (almost) - next we're going to learn how to ride in the car.  She didn't like that when I brought her home or when I took her to the vet - and she weighs about 75 lbs. by now so lifting her in, when she doesn't want to get in,  is not an option.    This is not going to be simple - but a little liverwurst can do wonders. Milie also loves to fetch - I don't get what the fascination is - but what the heck - she'll do that for hours.  So she gets her exercise without taking long, long walks.  I enjoyed my walks with Heinze - I would probably not have seen as much of this little area without him - but I didn't always want to go out and Heinze had no interest in fetching - he apparently didn't get what the fascination was either.  This gives me more flexability while making sure Milie gets her needed exercise.    All in all - I do miss Heinze very much - he was such a good boy. I didn't realize how much I was still grieving until I told my sister yesterday  that he was gone - it does get easier - this Iknow.  Thank you so much for helping me through this - this could have taken me out for  quite awhile - I don't get over these things easily.  And i need my wits about me right nowconcerning a few issues.  I could not have walked through this, accepting it so quicklywithout you.   You know - human beings are pretty amazing too.