As I was walking Moe on his late morning walk just now, the sun was so bright it had an otherworldly intensity. It was so bright, it temporarily blinded me despite wearing sunglasses. Still in the fog of despair from the election, I took it as an omen that in this place of darkness we all find ourselves in, there will be light.

Crunching through the fallen leaves that litter my neighborhood streets, we spotted a man on the other side of the street out walking his own dog, a chocolate lab. I crossed the street, asking the man if his dog was friendly and the two dogs greeted each other with welcoming wagging tails, though they had never met.

Their exchange was sweet, respectful, and gentle.

The man remarked how my fair blonde dog and his brown one looked so good together.

I nodded saying wistfully “That’s how America should be.”

The man smiled back and said “That’s how America is.”

We both grinned at each other, the smile filled with so much emotion. At a time when we are being overwhelmed, awash by this tidal wave of so much hate fueled by fear of the other, that exchange felt really good.

Thank you Moe for being a conduit to these positive feelings. Dogs are indispensable for seeing the good in the world even when everything seems so dark.

There will be light again, we just need to look for it.