Orlando is saying goodbye to its “First Dog” this week: Mayor Buddy Dyer announced today his labradoodle Sammie has died. Sammie, 14, was put down Friday due to paralysis in a ventricular valve, a flap in the heart which protects the esophagus and lungs from the backflow of blood. Sammie was a fixture in Orlando’s public life, frequenting city council meetings, supporting the Orlando Magic and comforting city staff after the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting.
I had this image in my head of what a husband should be. Unsurprisingly, he looked a lot like my dad: He had a mustache, a house and — importantly — a career. I didn't have any of that.