so many things have happened this year, it's a blur. bear came along 

right after mister and now she's suddenly in the past too. though she's 

still here. she was a bridge in time between mister and now, or mister  

and comet, now i'll be back with him, and mister's cherriot went to hilde, 

and now she's gone. i look at change from a dog-centered  perspective, 

mostly it seems, maybe because it seems simpler. otherwise we'll manage, 

humanly, and seek some sort of equilibrium. when i said bye to bear she 

stared, quizzically, wondering why i emphasized leaving this time. i 

don't know what she's thinking. later when i don't come back she may 

think, oh that's what he was meaning. ben gave me a book of pictures from 

the year. it's touching to see them as a book. a book of days with little 

bear.