We call her smile the day-saver. We needed it yesterday, when we determined that B. had overdrawn his checking account and discovered the water heater had shit the bed. She, of course, was happy to oblige. Of course, what REALLY saved the day was the news that even with our tax deduction that wasn't, we are getting three thousand dollars back from the feds. Enough to pay the year of property taxes B. forgot. Whoops. And to pay for the new water heater. Plus some money to pay down credit card debt. But the smile helped.

And we waited all day for the return of Saturday's laugh. I was changing her on the front seat of the truck with the door open on Saturday afternoon, on the side of the road, next to a graveyard in Vermont when it happened. I am pretty sure it was the cool breeze on her booty that forced it out...What a gorgeous sound that we have not yet heard again. She's back to her regular grunty sounds of joy.