I was nine and all I wanted in the whole wide world was a puppy.

Specifically a little black ball fur who jumped into my arms

Every time I saw him…

And one day, when he jumped, my mom said yes!

I named him:

Captain Timothy Carver….

After an ancestor who sailed the seven seas….

And that little dog helped me navigate the winds of childhood.

And still to this day,

He reminds me I can weather any storm… because we did.