Hey Mom,

Tanner here, living it up in the canine cosmos. Today I dabbled in philosophy, debated the belly rub economy, went gourmet with tofu chicken (wild, right?), sashayed for tailoring, and played mentor to the next gen of pups. Still a Rat Terrier at heart, but now with a splash of Zen and a palate that’s inching towards the sophisticated. All’s well in Spencerville—it’s all about self-growth, even after crossing the rainbow bridge.

Night, Mom. Dream of bacon showers!
🐾 Tanner

Every dog has its day, they say. Well, every morning in Spencerville starts with a sizzling strip of bacon from Pawsome Pancakes, so on a philosophical level, I suppose the saying rings true. It’s me, Tanner—the Canine Soul of Spencerville—waking up to yet another picture-pawsfect day in the great beyond.

Life here is like running with the leash off, except every hydrant is platinum and instead of cars, we dodge cats with wings. Seriously, they fly. They fly, and they know it; the smugness in their whiskered grins says it all.

Anyway, today I’ve decided to be proactive. Being good isn’t just about resisting the urge to snarf down the left-behind Fishy Bite your buddy dropped; it’s about growth, self-improvement, trying not to lose your composure when someone brings out the ear-cleaning kit. It’s tough being a gentle-paw with my history of ear-cleaning aversion, but Spencerville is all about the afterlife glow up.

I started off by nosing through my favorite self-help book at The Furry Friends Art Gallery. “The Zen of Fetch,” they call it. Between you and me, the whole “fetch” concept is lost on a dog of my intellectual bearings—why chase when you can be chased, am I right?

Then, I took a stroll down to Choco Chihuahua Castle. No big deal—just a towering tribute to dogs who knew their worth was measured in love, not just in treats. I shared a sniff with Baron von Bark, a rather profound Weimaraner, who schooled me on the intricate economics of belly rubs. Apparently, the exchange rate for ear scritches is criminally undervalued.

Post-scholarly debate, it was time for lunch. And where else would a dog with my refined palate dine but at Furrific Fried Chicken? I confess, I’m a cheese aficionado—put a cheese cube on a pedal-stool and I’ll tell you it’s art. However, I was here on a mission to diversify my taste buds. So, with much bombast and a dash of trepidation, I decided to try their new dog-friendly tofu chicken. I know, I know—spray me down with a hose, because I must be on fire!

Post-chicken—or whatever that actually was—it was off to The Tail Wagger’s Tailor for a fitting. I heard that horizontal stripes are pretty slimming and being of Rat Terrier descent, you have to take advantage of your naturally streamline physique.

As twilight descended upon our humble town, and bellies were full, I knew my day of self-improvement wouldn’t be complete without giving back to the community. And so, I lent my paws to tutor pups at The Doggie Daycare. Younger dogs today, am I right? These pups don’t even have a snarl for doorbells anymore! I blame the humans—they always answer them too quickly.

Turning in for the evening, surrounded by a legion of comfy pillows, I considered my progress. Had I improved myself? Maybe. Did I feel better about my place in the universe and all that jazz? Definitely. And as I closed my eyes, I realized Spencerville isn’t just about waiting to be reunited with those you’ve loved; it’s about appreciating the journey—a dogged pursuit of being your best self, even in the afterlife.

So, if you sneak a peek through the drapes on a starry Spencerville night, you might catch me, Tanner, the modest hero, the four-legged pioneer of pet betterment, dreaming of a world where bacon falls from the sky, and self-improvement comes with a side of roasted chicken—or tofu, as days like today would have it.

The End.