When I moved to New Hampshire, I was aware of the legality of fireworks. I didn’t expect a spectacular show visible from my bedroom. I worried that Maddox would react with the typical panicked panting, drooling, and vomiting.

As it turns out, the pops and fizzles that occur most weekends throughout the summer months have prepared her for handling the Independence Day show. I was armed with calming pheromone sprays and her ThunderShirt, but all she really wanted was to hunker down and sleep in the dark quiet of my walk-in closet. She handled this Fourth with enough grace and calm that I felt comfortable leaving her side… Sadie and I sat out on the curb to watch. Maybe one of these years I’ll wander down to the lake for a front-row seat.