It's gloomy outside this morning but rays of hope warm our hearts. All thanks to Lloyd, who had a fabulous day yesterday. We went for three very nice walks, he athletically ran down and caught some tennis balls and he galloped into the forest surrounding our yard to loudly warn a furry trespasser that there would be a serious price to pay should it come any closer. He continued to rollick in the house, dropping toys and tennis balls at my feet to challenge me to games of tug and toss. The challenges were met. Glee resulted.

Lloyd is eating very well, eagerly consuming food that he was turning away from two days ago. It's a special diet that Karen, a lawyer who knows how to find answers, has tracked down and put on the menu. We are feeding the dog and starving the cancer. This means no carbs, no chemical poisons but plenty of protein. He's eating several small meals a day that include at various times -- special vitamin-bolstered canned and dry food; flaxseed oil mixed with a natural cottage cheese; free range chicken free off growth hormones, antibiotics and such and the broth from the chicken. He washes it down with plenty of water usually followed by a nice nap. Although Lloyd is welcome on both the bed and couch, he likes his dog bed best and so Karen and I camp on the floor with him. It's a cozy cocoon of love.

My wise friend Dennis Perrin reminded me that if ever there were a time to take a Zen-like approach, this is it. And so we're living very much in the moment. It's paying dividends of joy. Who knows what this wonderful dog can do with excellent nutrition, boundless love and his own great spirit working for him? I don't know but I do hope. I do know that the doctors brought Lloyd back from death and a few days later our familiar friend is back in action. I'm copiously grateful.

They say that petting a dog releases  endorphins and they're right. While I always paid plenty of attention to Lloyd, now I never miss a chance to stroke his soft fur, rub his ears and scratch under his collar for him. He arches into the caresses until he drifts off to sleep. I gradually lighten my touch so that he isn't awakened by the sudden withdrawal of physical affection. The softness of his sleek fur leaves my hands glowing pleasantly, the feeling creeps up my arms and works quickly to subdue the awful pain I have been feeling in the pit of my stomach since Lloyd took ill.  I must believe that his endorphins are working wonders of their own. They also say endorphins help fight cancer, well