You know, life starts in funny ways. For me, it was a bit of a mystery for the first seven years. I don't remember much of it, just a lot of waiting. Then one day, these amazing humans showed up. I was a little shy at first, a bit wary, just sizing them up. But oh boy, when they started giving pets? My curiosity took over, and I knew right away: these were my people. I walked around their place, sniffing everything, thinking, "Is this it? Is this my home? Can I walk anywhere? Can I sleep in rooms with my other people? YAY!" And just like that, my new life began. The first thing you should know about me, no matter what, is that I am friendly. And I. Want. Pets. Seriously, non-stop pets, please and thank you. I might be a quiet type once I know you, not much for barking unless another dog gets me all excited, but my tail will be wagging, and my eyes will be telling you exactly what I want: attention, and yes, more pets. When it's time to settle down, I have my rituals. I like to walk in a small circle a few times before I curl up for a proper rest. Sometimes, I’ll even rub my face on the furniture – it’s just comforting, okay? And if you hear a soft snuffling or a little snore, that's just me dreaming of treats. Oh, and if you ever find me lying silently by a closed door, gently whining, just know I’m politely requesting passage. I'm a patient boy, but a door left closed is an injustice! I even picked up a funny habit from my dad, the oldest human. He'd always come down the stairs slowly, stopping midway to peek at who was downstairs. Well, I started doing it too! I’d run down halfway, poke my head through the railing, check things out, and then make my grand entrance to greet whoever I saw. I’m a connoisseur of comfort, you see. My absolute favorite thing was cuddling up and sleeping right there on the bed with my humans. Nothing beat that. A close second was just taking a nap next to someone's leg. I had my spots, too: the right side of the living room table (head tucked under, that's key!), the right side of the living room sofa, and that quiet back room near the toilet. But my ultimate kingdom was my human's room, especially that corner with my bed. When that wasn't an option, I’d just find the closest spot to my brother upstairs. As long as I was near my people, that was my favorite time of day. Speaking of favorite things, I loved my toy pig. And a squeaky rubber ducky, though my humans usually hid that one because I got a little too excited. But the real joy was this random towel. We'd play tug-of-war for ages – best game ever! Now, about food. I was a vegetarian, not by choice, mind you, but because of a pesky skin condition. Still, my appetite was unbeatable. Chicken, lamb, pork... you name it, if it had flavor, I wanted it. But I was a little sassy with my own food bowl – if there wasn't anything "special" in it, like extra meats, potatoes, or carrots, I could be quite picky! Oh, and for my birthday one year, one of my humans bought me a banana cake. Let me tell you, I ate that whole thing. Loved it so, so much! I truly lived to eat! Walks at the park were adventures. I loved sniffing every blade of grass, finding little insects to munch on – yeah, I was a bit of a bugger like that, haha. And other dogs? Oh boy, I'd get so excited! Whining, trying to lunge playfully, my legs practically jumping off the ground. I just wanted to say hello! Sometimes, I’d even rush ahead and if the leash dropped, I wouldn’t run off. I’d just stop, turn around, and wait for my human to pick it up, almost like I was saying, "Quick, pick it up or you'll get lost! Let me lead the way!" Oh, and I took notoriously long to poop. I mean, I had to find the perfect spot, you know? It’s an art form! I thought of my humans as my best friends. We did everything together. One time, they even smuggled me in a bag to Genting Highlands for a holiday! That was a wild ride. And Chinese New Year, when everyone gathered and brought their dogs? Those were the best times, just surrounded by love and fellow canines. I was beyond friendly, I'd walk right up to anyone, jump a little, and just ask for pets. That was my way. I was also super gentle with the kids. I never had anger issues, ever. They could play with me roughly, and I would just lie there and let them pet me. I may have been a bit stubborn sometimes, and yeah, maybe a bit of a drama king too, but they loved me for it. I was an old soul, even at seven years old when they adopted me. Not super hyper, just... present. I loved being there, simply being by their side, knowing we all loved each other. I guess what I learned, and what I hope I taught them, is never to take anything for granted. Appreciate things when you have them, and when they're gone, be glad that it happened. Love and affection, that's the cure to so many problems. Or at least, it teaches you what's truly important. Oh, but one time, my human had a friend over for a sleepover, and I think I got a little jealous because he was sleeping in my spot. So I pooped on his mattress, haha. Oops! My greatest joy was being by your side, getting all those pets, non-stop. I want to be remembered as the most loving, the goodest boy, the bravest, and the most courageous dog who has ever lived. Thank you for everything, my best friends. I can't wait for you to get here so that I can get all those pets again!