Charlie was about a year and a half when we met. I remember our chance encounter like it was yesterday. On a snowy Winter morning I was walking Buster, our 110 lb. Shepard mix. Everything was normal, until all of a sudden a giddy blond boy who couldn't be more than a third of Buster's size appeared from out of nowhere, headed straight for Buster, giggling and holding a surprisingly large rock over his head as if ready to throw it. Buster cowered between my legs, almost knocking me to the ground. John then appeared, pouring some of his great British humor on the situation, and that was my introduction to the Waller family that we have come to love and admire so much. After a few minutes, Buster succumbed to Charlie’s enthusiasm, and they began chasing each other through the street with that pure joy that comes so easily to toddlers (and dogs). After that first day, John told me that many mornings, Charlie would go through the trouble of putting on all his winter gear and come out in the cold with John and Esther to the bus stop on the off chance he *might* run into Buster. When we did have the luck of meeting up, Buster and Charlie would eagerly greet each other and take up right where they left off. It really was the most heartwarming sight to watch little Charlie and huge Buster play together. Charlie’s deep connection with animals was truly something to behold. As it happens, however, Buster was not the only “Charlie enthusiast” in our family. Our daughter, Camila (now 5), developed quite the crush on Charlie when they were about 3. Charlie was less enthralled, although he did seem to enjoy Camila’s company. The way they would sit together, musing over this or that, was as tender a thing as I ever saw. All of this is long way of saying that we miss you, Charlie, but we are so, so glad we met you.