From time to time a reader of this happy Corner will enquire after Crusoe, the Robinson poodle, who is, as it happens, curled up behind me as I type. The missus and I brought him home one year ago yesterday, and this morning, as he did a year ago today, Crusoe went to school with the children for the blessing of the animals. This is an event at which the students of St. Raymond’s School fill the parking lot with their dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and assorted other pets, listen to the priest offer a brief homily on the great love that St. Francis displayed toward all creatures, then smile and giggle as the priest walks among the pets, sprinkling them with holy water as they all strain at their leashes, wriggle in their owners’ arms, yelp, bark, and–as happened this morning in the case of a determined minature pinscher, make a sudden break for it, escaping at speed across the playing field. (The school principal, the magnificent Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea, likes Good Order. The blessing of the animals is not her favorite school event.) Below, a picture of Crusoe with our middle child, Nico, taken as the gathering was breaking up. How is Crusoe doing? Well, he has Nico and four other children to love him, play with him, take him for walks, and teach him tricks. In short, Crusoe is doing very, very well, and thank you.