Although it might seem like a good idea to replace a dog to ease the pain of losing a beloved pet, Lou Sedaris sees that it’s not always possible to simply move on by spending time with a new animal. In the same way that his wife cannot be replaced, Melina can’t be replaced either, no matter how much Lou likes Sophie. And yet, it’s quite possible that Lou will learn to love Sophie on her own terms, integrating her into his life so that she becomes something of a family member—just like Melina was.