My friend Tucker is back for another visit, so of course that translates into lots of walks. Lots. Of. Walks.

This morning we headed out early for a jaunt around Como Lake—it’s a weekend tradition for me and Tucker—but the landscape was different, somehow. It took me a quarter of a mile to figure out why: Como Lake is overflowing.

We’ve had a ridiculous amount of rain in the past 10 days. And now it shows: On my way back to the car, I noticed with dismay that one of my favorite benches was partially submerged. But Tucker didn’t care. For him, water invites exploration—and it inspires mirth.

That’s why I love the company of dogs. Seen through Tucker’s eyes, Como Lake hasn’t lost a bench so much as it’s gained a beach.