I believe my best friend must be my dog, Australian shepherd, answers to Merle or some variation thereof...merlie girly, merline, merlina beana. She never fails to greet me with joy; even a hundred times a day. She is always happy to accept my invitations, and always enjoys our time together. She never fails to forgive me should I scold her or leave her out of the fun, and apparently forgets it immediately. She trusts me, and does not argue about the odious things I insist on; haircuts, medicine, baths, cats living with us. there is no human being who loves me unconditionally. My son used to, but he's 14 now, nuff said.