Doodling on an insulin bottle

To Frasier, with love
London, ON
May 2016

The typical dog's life is filled with naps, walks, playdates, and endless sessions of barking at the window for reasons that make sense only inside a dog's head. Our dog is no different, and his life with us for the past nine-ish years has been packed with countless such moments.

But our dog isn't typical. His days also include regular doses of insulin. At 8 am and pm, he very sweetly follows one of us to the kitchen, where he gets his needle like a champ. Every. Single. Time.

Sure, there are treats involved, and in the mind of a schnauzer, the word "treat" is the only trigger he needs. But needle time has become a critical ritual both for him and for us, a regularly scheduled reminder of just how precious life can be. It's also become an important responsibility for our kids - and one which they take incredibly seriously. You can forget to load your dirty dishes in the dishwasher, but the dog's needle is inviolable. They know it, and Frasier trusts them implicitly.

Whenever we start a new insulin vial, the person who opens it up marks the date on the top of the box. As you can see, this time someone added a little extra something. Yes, we love him. And, yes, we know to the depths of our soul that this innocent-looking box means life to our little guy. I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't melt a little when I opened the fridge and saw this.