On this unusually warm April afternoon in New England, I sat in the shade of an umbrella out on my deck, watching my dog Guinness go-to-town on the marrow bone I had given him. I sipped on a beer from the bottle and took in the warm fresh air, listening to the birds sing wildly as if they too thought it best to make the most of what was sure to turn cold in a few days.

I smiled slightly watching my dog enjoy the rare treat, and for some reason something occured to me just then, and this wasn’t the first time I’d thought it. Guinness was going to die some day, and no matter what I did about it, I’d have to see it happen.

In case you haven’t guessed, I’ve been accused plenty of times being “gloomy gus”. This time it was a different sort of realization, though. I was happy to be there watching my dog enjoy that bone, and that he simply enjoyed every moment in his life just as they happened. It never occurs to dogs that their owners will outlive them and likely replace them some day. However, if you could witness the pure soul that is inside each one of them, you’d likely see that they’re ecstatic that their owners will live beyond their own years. They’re ecstatic that the sadness their master feels when they’re gone will be short lived, and they will move on to find other things in their lives that will make them happy. Because dogs are happy when their owners are happy — there’s no greater definition of unconditional love.

As I thought about this briefly and continued to watch my dog, I understood that this realization was not something that should make me sad. Unless you are terminally ill or, for some reason or another, believe you’re not long for this world, you go into these relationships with pets knowing that they won’t be there when you die. I know this — I’ve had other dogs in my life and have seen them pass away. Yet people continue to adopt pets into their lives, getting into relationships they know for a fact are not going to last forever.

What I understood now was that, just as you should live life enjoying every moment for what it is, it’s especially true in moments with your dog. Enjoy those times you take him for walks or for a ride in the car, even the times you’re taking him our for a crap or watching him chew a bone in the yard on an unusually warm April afternoon.

Guinness is going to die someday, but I’m happy because he’s happy right now.