By Tom Purcell

My Lab puppy, Thurber, makes me laugh out loud every day.

The writing life requires you to sit still for long periods of time, but those days are long gone.

As I write this column – attempt to write it, that is – my seven-and-a-half-month-old buddy keeps dropping his ball at my feet, hoping to get me to play with him.

Which makes me laugh out loud.

He usually doesn’t give up until I take him outside for a good run – or we go to the park, so he can greet stranger...