For the past week we have been dog sitting for friends. She is a French Bulldog and her name is “Spanky.”
Spanky is a 15+lbs. tootsie roll of a character who grunts and snorts when she is happy to see you. She is quick to let you know that she is taking over and, under no certain circumstance is your home yours anymore, she is now in charge. She does this in many ways, leaving toys out in the general path for you to step on, waking you up to grunts and snorts to let you know that it’s time to go outside, not to mention we have to watch where we put our plates when we are not at the table because there is always someone looking to steal a little treat and finally … the gas, oh the gas. It’s like she ate nuclear waste or something!
Now, it has been some time since we have had dogs in the house, years to be exact. Buck and Outlaw left such an imprint on our hearts that it has been difficult for me to consider having any other pet take their place. So, when we were asked to watch Spanky, I KNEW Shannon would jump at the chance to have another “fuzzy face” in the house.
I have to say, it was nice having a little extra life in the house even though ya gotta go outside with them in the cold and dark backyard, and how fantastic it is to have someone, besides Shannon, who is truly happy to see you when you come home from a hard day at work.
It is nice to have a big pair of brown eyes look up at you as if to say, “Did I do good?” It is nice to hear little nails across the kitchen floor playing keep away and fetch with the humans that SHE has been entrusted with to keep them safe while she guards the house. It is nice…
…to be needed.
Love what you have, with all that you have and know that you are better because of it.
I learned that the other day when I came upstairs to find Spanky, sitting in my chair, watching television with Shannon. I looked at her and she grunted back. I looked at Shannon and she was giggling. I looked back into the chair, the dog looked up at me … and farted.
I still have a lot to learn.
