I don't know where I've been or what I've been doing that I haven't posted here for over a week! I wish I had some glamorous story or even a reasonable excuse, but I don't. In any case, I'm back!

Most of you know that I have a gigantic dog that I completely adore. She never leaves the yard and when we leave, I usually leave her outside to roam as she wishes (no leash of any kind). I open the garage door part of the way so that she can have shelter if she needs it, but otherwise, she's on her own and is absolutely always here when I get home.

A few weekends ago we were leaving and it was kind of rainy. I opened the garage door as usual and said to Kate (who was standing on top of our retaining wall), "If it rains hard, please go in so that you don't get soaked!". My husband looked at me and said, "You're talking to her like she understands you."

I insisted that she does understand me, but chooses to only listen to me part of the time. Our discussion progressed and somehow we started to talk about the souls of animals. It turns out that my husband doesn't think that animals have souls!!!! I was totally shocked! In all of these years, how could we never have discussed this? Is it possible for me to be married to someone who doesn't think animals have souls?!!! This was unbelievable!

I wasn't able to persuade him to my way of thinking and he even laughed at me when I told him that we were going to have to atone for all of the killing of squirrels that we've done (they get into our attic and four of them have fallen into our fireplace). He said he agrees with one of my friends that that isn't squirrel murder, its squirrel suicide.

I reminded him that the eight times that a bat has been found in the house he has made every effort to release it back outside instead of killing it. Why bother if it doesn't have a soul? He retorted that there is no need to kill anything if you don't have to. With the squirrel situation he doesn't think he has a choice (and he is probably right given the specific circumstances - and that there is no way I want a squirrel running around my house).

Anyone else want to weigh in on this? I'll never change my  mind, but it would be interesting to hear what others think. Well wishes to all!
Cheryl