Today we took our puppy to a new home. I say “our” because today marks exactly 6 weeks we’ve been in Arusha, and in that time, we took care of Tigger.

These past 6 weeks, we had taken to feeding the puppy in our compound. He was starving, infested with ticks, and utterly lacking love. I named him Tigger because when healthy, he’s such a happy puppy. He jumps around wanting to play, and just exudes joy.

Today he was in my arms for about three hours, on a tuk tuk, a dala dala, and a pikipiki—all to bring him to an animal shelter on the doorstep of Mount Meru, right next to the entrance to Arusha National Park. This shelter found a family who would take care of him. It was a long trip.

There was an extended moment of melancholy in the two hour long dala dala ride when I felt a resigned sense of ease. It was a sort of happy peace as well. The radio was playing, some Bongo flava song, it was a beautiful day, the open window brought much needed air to the puppy and I, and I had no idea where I was. I thought, “I’m in Africa, taking a puppy to a new home.” Fighting off sleep, I basked in that extended moment.

Hours later, it makes me think of how I used to start my mediations. “This is the most important moment in the history of the universe.” It is. The present moment, whatever moment we’re in right now, is more important than any other, ever.

That extended moment in the mini bus was my own moment. Although tired and weary, I appreciated how fortunate I was to be where I was, how crazy it was that I was there.

But I had another moment with Tigger when it was goodbye. He looked at me, confused and scared. With my voice and my eyes, I tried to tell him that he would have a better life this way, a real home. We shared a moment then, and it was ours and only ours. The moment is gone, but it was powerful.

It’s an amazing journey in this thing we call life. We can be good to each other. We can form bonds and connections. We can have meaning. It happens in moments.