The day after I launched my first novel, I left for Paris on business.   I work for a global French energy player who is focused on renewable energy and where we help our clients achieve their publicly stated decarbonization goals.

On my down time I took Shimmy with me to see the best sites in Paris.  I happily explored the Eiffel Tower, watched the river boats launch on the Seine River, explored the Louvre, marveled at the Arc de Triomphe, strolled the Champs-Élysées, I lit up at the Christmas trees and work-of-art window displays at de Galeries Lafayette, felt dreamy at the Opéra de Paris and felted very humbled at the Palace of Versailles.

Many of the places I visited had wonderful old paintings.   It took me a while to start to really notice how many of these paintings had dogs in them.  Even in epic war scenes you could find a faithful four-legged companion messed up in the frenzy of a battle.  I realized that these were probably real pets who loved their owners and who in turn were loved enough to be memorialized forever.  Once my conscience mind noted this, I could spot them every where.   Sitting on laps, far off in hunting scenes, playing with village children, under a table trying to catch scraps….it really was like a game for me.  Instead of spot Waldo, it was spot SPOT!

From the first cave carvings until today, we honour our pets with millions of pictures posted daily on social media.  We pay tribute to our faithful companions and we depict their protection, loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, alertness, and love.  

Who knows, maybe when we catch our pet’s eyes darting intently back and forth and we think it is dust in the light, maybe they are seeing Shimmies who are reminding them of years long gone by.