Our neighbor, Doug Butler, had many sled dogs, and when they howled at night, it made our corner of Middlebury seem wild, like the Arctic, or the Russian steppes from Willa Cather’s novels.

After many years, I didn’t hear the howling anymore; it became a permanent part of my consciousness.

Doug developed Lou Gehrig’s disease and passed away this fall. I went to the service at the Legion Hall and there were more people there than any service I’ve ever been to. Over and over people commented that he was the most cheerful person they knew.

I think the dogs are gone but I will always imagine I hear them howling and I hear the voice of our most cheerful neighbor. Doug, you are missed!

Morris Earle

Middlebury