Hello, old friend.

Let's pretend like we're old friends, dear blog. The kind of friends that you can go without seeing for months even years, but when you do reconnect it's like you've just seen them yesterday. You don't miss a beat. You don't feel guilty that so much has happened that you haven't shared.

Nope.

You just pick right up where you left off, thrilled... So, hey, old friend...

Knox.

Meet Knox. Knox is my new dog. Knox is a border collie. Knox is crazy!

Knox is pure joy for life morphed into the shape of a dog. Knox is intense and silly - a full contact dog.

Knox has a unknown history. His history with me starts at the Central California SPCA. So, we'll just start there, even though I know there is "history." Knox can be crushed with words. Devastated by your voice. Knox will run frightened until he hears even the slightest give in your voice, the tiniest change in your tone. He will detect it, and he will forgive you instantly for your lapse and come rushing back to your side. He forgives. It's cool. It reminds me to do the same...

Knox is an open heart, and that is what I love about him. He's all the other stuff that border collies are too - obsessed (with chickens and tennis balls), loads of energy (thank God for the invention of the Chuck It), intense (he can win any staring contest - especially if it's with a chicken...).

He sleeps flat on his back. He's learning not to put his front feet on the counter, and he has the wildest swirly hair on his rear-end, he's missing one of his front teeth - hence his nickname, Billy Bob...

Knox is... Knox is...

my dog.

And that means a lot.