"Saying Farewell to a Faithful Pal"

Does your inquiring mind want to know what lessons you can learn from a dog? Start with this list from the article by the newspaper columnist John Grogan, "Saying Farewell to a Faithful Pal" and then move on to his memoir "Marley and Me."

Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 6 Unit 2's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: Walk Two Moons, The Little Mermaid, …And Although the Little Mermaid Sacrificed Everything…, He Might Have Liked Me Better with My Tail, Travels with Charley, Saying Farewell to a Faithful Pal, Dogs Make Us Human, My Story, Temple Grandin
15 words 107 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    It was odd being out in the backyard without Marley, the Labrador retriever who for 13 years made it his business to be right by my side for every excursion out the door, whether to pick a tomato, pull a weed, or fetch the mail.
  2. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    He crashed joyously through life with a gusto most often associated with natural disasters.
  3. majestic
    having or displaying great dignity or nobility
    He was a majestic animal, nearly 100 pounds of quivering muscle wrapped in a luxurious fur coat the color of straw.
  4. breakthrough
    the act of making an important discovery
    As for brains, let me just say he chased his tail til the day he died, apparently he was on the verge of a major canine breakthrough.
  5. whimper
    cry weakly or softly
    When I brought my wife home from the doctor after our first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, that wild beast gently rested his blocky head in her lap and just whimpered.
  6. ferocity
    the property of being aggressive or forceful
    One day when a stranger tried to hold one of the children, our jolly giant showed a ferocity we never imagined was inside him.
  7. riddle
    spread or diffuse through
    By the end, his hearing was shot, his teeth were gone, his hips so riddled with arthritis he barely could stand.
  8. infirmity
    the state of being weak in health or body
    Despite the infirmities, he greeted each day with the mischievous glee that was his hallmark.
  9. loopy
    informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
    A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours.
  10. exuberance
    joyful enthusiasm
    Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy.
  11. shaft
    a column of light
    He taught me to appreciate the simple things--a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight.
  12. optimism
    a general disposition to expect the best in all things
    And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity.
  13. unwavering
    marked by firm determination or resolution
    Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.
  14. veterinarian
    a doctor who provides health care to animals
    When his time came last week, I knelt beside him on the floor of the animal hospital, rubbing his gray snout as the veterinarian discussed cremation with me.
  15. devotion
    feelings of ardent love
    I thought back over his 13 years--the destroyed furniture and goofy antics; the sloppy kisses and utter devotion.
Created on Wed Aug 13 13:29:51 EDT 2014 (updated Wed Aug 13 16:22:33 EDT 2014)

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