I am so lucky to have Sock. When the world is a nasty, cruel place, she at least will cover my face with kisses. She understands laughing and crying; when I laugh, she lies down in front of me waiting for a game, but when I cry, she shoves her nose in under my hands and licks away the tears.
She depends on me for food and for walks, and I depend on her for warnings and for love. She tells me before I get into a situation that might hurt me, and I try to look out for dangers she might miss, like cars or bigger dogs. We're a partnership, and I think one of the most humbling realisations in my life is that there isn't a senior partner in our relationship. If Sock thinks I'm wrong, that I'm going to walk out on the road and have a seizure, she will flat-out disobey me. If I think Sock is going to put herself in danger, I yell for her and if she doesn't obey she gets a smack.
I think Sock probably feels a bit like a kid with a mum who needs her help occasionally. I get the final say most of the time, but if Sock thinks it's important, she makes her views known. She saved my life numerous times.
I feel so lucky and so grateful to have Sock. And thank you, hugely, to all of those of you who've helped us out financially and emotionally over the years - it has made a huge difference, and believe me, you are remembered in our thanksgiving. If it weren't for you guys I might not have Sock, and were it not for Sock, I'd be dead by now many times over.