Starlight in Her Paws
A Letter of Light for Steffany Hope Bowling

Dear Steffany,

I think about you more often than you’d expect, and always with the kind of warmth reserved for someone who once changed my life with a puppy. We haven’t seen each other in years, but your light has never dimmed in my memory. I still remember Tuesday Morning—those days of post-high-school chaos and low-wage camaraderie—mostly because of how bright you made them. You were the fun one. The outgoing one. A newlywed, a new mama beaming with pride over your baby boy Josh. You had this spark that made people feel lucky to be near it. I don’t think I ever told you just how much that meant to me.

We bonded over music, over laughter, and especially over animals. You had your sweet miniature dachshunds—Lilo and Stitch—and I had Atticus. We talked about our dogs like they were family because, well, they were. You knew how much Atticus meant to me, and that I hoped to raise his bloodline alongside mine.

What you did next was one of the kindest, most generous surprises of my life.

Right around my 21st birthday, you and Jamie cooked up a plan. I thought I was getting fish for my birthday—literally. A fish tank. We were at Petco, and I was fully expecting goldfish or guppies or something simple and sweet. But then we turned the corner… and there you were. Holding the most beautiful little dapple dachshund I’d ever seen. Matilda.

My jaw dropped. My heart burst. You smiled that big, excited smile like you knew exactly what you were giving me—not just a puppy, but something much, much deeper.

Matilda was everything. She was pure joy, wild energy, and perfect sweetness all rolled into one tiny creature. She was deeply loved every single day of her life. Her time with us was too short—cut short by illness—but she lived fully, fearlessly, and with so much love surrounding her. She had three beautiful sons: Frankenstein (Frankie), Bruce Wayne, and Charlie. Frankie and Bruce Wayne stayed with us—Frankie lived to be almost 13, and Bruce made it to 15 and a half. Eventually, Frankie had a daughter: Penny. A beautiful dapple just like her grandmother.

Penny still lives with us today. She’s grown up alongside our kids. She’s part of the family, just like Matilda was. And often when I look at her, I think of you. Of Lilo and Stitch. Of how much light you shared by trusting me with that little soul.

That legacy still runs through our house—on tiny paws and wagging tails—and it all traces back to you.

I found you on Facebook years later, and I’ve followed along ever since—watching you go viral with your incredible cake creations, laughing at your hilarious TikToks, and feeling constant admiration for the strength, creativity, and joy you radiate. Even while facing health challenges, you’ve remained fierce, fun, and inspiring as hell. You’ve always had that spark. I don’t think it ever went out—it just got stronger.

So, Steffany, thank you. Thank you for being the light in a random retail job that turned out to be anything but ordinary. Thank you for Matilda, for the surprise, for the love, and for trusting me with a piece of your heart. Thank you for being the kind of person who stays with someone long after the shift ends.

You are amazing. You always have been. And I’m lucky to have known you.



With so much love,

Lauren