Love: The Teacher
By Lee Nickles
Lee is a former art teacher who is currently seeking her Master of Arts in
Elementary Education. Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, USA, Lee has lived in
Birmingham for almost five years.

I first found little SueSue shortly after my father died. I had always been a cat person, rescuing them from various types of situations; however, at this time in my life, I decided I wanted the kind of unconditional, overly-expressive love that dogs are so well known for.

So I set off for Atlanta to a cocker spaniel rescue adoption center and looked at numerous dogs. I knew I wanted an older dog, but I really didn't anticipate one that was 12 years old, deaf, and one that had never really been socialized. SueSue was the very last dog I looked at, but once I saw her, and found out she had always lived in shelters, never having had any constant love or attention, I knew I had found my dog.

I've had her now for close to a year, and I can honestly say that I definitely found that unconditional love I was looking for. Only it's not as apparent as one usually finds with a dog-- SueSue doesn't jump up and down when she sees me (she's 12 years old, after all), and she doesn't come greet me when I walk in the door (she is deaf, after all), and she doesn't know how to fetch or play like most dogs (I don't think she was ever given these opportunities as a puppy). But when her little tail wags at the sight of me, I know that she is happy and safe, and that is enough for me. After all, who can qualify the way love is shown? What a wonderful lesson SueSue has taught me.

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