She was all that I had. When I got in from work she was the first face I saw and although she waited impatiently, when I was late, she never held it against me and sometimes looked even more overjoyed that I finally returned. Sometimes late at night when I was making long trips, she would come along to keep me awake and I believe, to protect me, judging from the way she greeted strangers who approached.  Her sense of security was never misplaced, she always seem to know who was friend or foe. She always wanted to do things her way but yielded when I asked.