I was blessed with my first Dane January 9,2006. She was born November 15th, 2005. She was a Christmas gift from my boyfriend, Dustin. Her Gramma & Grampa (breeders) drove her down to Georgia and we met at the restaurant Dustin manages in downtown Savannah. She was so frightened. So small. So perfect.

There was a huge line of hungry folks anxiously awaiting some of Paula Deen's down home cookin' and major construction of a new, fabulous downtown structure underway, both adding extra din to the normal hustle and bustle of downtown Savannah. I remember actually feeling the pavement shake beneath me as I scanned the crowd for my new baby.

Then there they were. It was love at first sight. She was trembling when they passed her to me. I wrapped her in a blanket I had brought for her as tears of joy streamed down my face. I whisked her to my car so fast, I didn't even say goodbye to her breeders. I wanted to get her somewhere quiet and safe. I buckled the seatbelt around us and drove to my favorite park square.

And that was the beginning of the greatest love of my life.