A new addition (Tara Taylor Quinn)

I went with my twenty-year-old daughter to pick up her new puppy over the weekend. She wanted a Poochin. There were only two breeders we could find with litters available. The closest one was South Dakota. We live in Phoenix. It's too hot in Phoenix to ship critters, the airline regulations won't allow it, so onto the plane went Rach and I with an empty travel kennel. So many people asked to see what was inside that we finally tipped it sideways and carried it that way so they'd know there was nothing there. The next morning, on the return trip, we couldn't walk two feet without people stopping us to peek at him. I have to say, he is adorable. He stops me in my tracks and I'm cleaning up after him on a constant basis, but more on that in a minute.

His name is Darcy. He's six weeks old. He's a Poochin - half poodle half Japanese chin. Yes, we flew all the way to South Dakota to get him. He'll get to be about ten pounds. Rach and I can say this by rote, in our sleep, and while we're having other conversations, we had to repeat it so many times. We figured we should have made signs and worn them around our neck.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't blame these people. Had the shoe been on the other foot (a horrible cliche, forgive me) I'd have done the very same thing. I'd have been the most annoying of them all as I would have asked to hold him. My point is, he's adorable. He compels you to his side and you can't help but ooh and ahh and want to share in the joy of him. Everyone who came up to us was envious of him. Wishing he was with them.

And there's another side to this. He's not house trained. And he's teething. My daughter is working three days a week and since Mima (that's me) works in her own office, it's a given that she can babysit. On Monday, I'm back in my office, on deadline with three books to write by January, and this sweet little six week old Poochin named Darcy proceeds to potty on my new wool rug. And again. And then again. I watch him play with my one-year-old baby Taylor (a full bred poodle who weighs five pounds) and I tell myself I have to work. I get through five e-mails and he's chewed a hole in my speaker cord. He goes from there to my keyboard cord. And he potties again. (Yes, I've taken him out. Countless times.) He's still dang cute. I still love him. But having a puppy is hard work. Really hard. It takes patience. It takes self-control. It takes selflessness.

And I have to tell you, the reward is great. One look from his eyes to mine and I know what life is about. That is a happy moment. Serene, peaceful, exciting all in one.

And as my four legged babies always do, Darcy is teaching me something. I have a book to write. I love writing. And anytime anyone hears that I'm an author they ooh and aah and ask questions, and wish it was them. But it's also hard work. Very hard work. It takes patience. And self-control (especially when the emotional insecurities kick in). And it takes selflessness. I give up self to my characters every single time I sit down to write. This is no easy task. Giving up self to someone else.

But the reward is great. The best. I am living a fulfilled life - doing what I love. What could be better than that?

And isn't this what all of life is about? For all of us? We choose. We find out that our choices are hard. But if we can stick with them, keep the puppy, sit down at the computer, complete the project, the reward is the best of life.

So, anybody got tricks they want to share about potty training? Or puppy raising?