We went to the movies to see Marley and Me today. It was one of those movies that makes you laugh so hard and then a tear rolls down your face. Good movies do that. They make you feel things and relate them to your own life.
I rode home thinking about just how much our 4 little pups mean to me. Now, usually I say that I hate Lucy. If we had seen the movie first, I would have insisted on naming her Marley. A constant quote from the movie, "You are the WORST dog in the whole world!" often applies to Lucy. She chews everything. She thinks the world is her potty. When we say "Potty Time!" Lucy runs up the stairs and hides under our covers. Lucy chases the cat and won't stop when I yell. Lucy does what Lucy wants.
Yesterday I found a baby's wooden block shredded in the hallway. Unfortunatley, I also found a prescription bottle with the BABY PROOF cap chewed off. There were 4 pills remaining and I prayed all night that she hadn't eaten one. Josie's last trip to the MSU Animal Emergency room was costly, from eating 2 ibuprofen.
In the movie, Marley ate the couch. At our house, Lucy ate the new mattress cover on our king sized bed. Our room looked like a snowstorm had taken place. Marley chewed up his owner's fabric samples, but Josie has taught Lucy the pleasure of unwinding every ball of yarn that I am dumb enough to leave in reach. Joe is an expert at untangling them.
However, as I lay here in bed with Lucy warming my toes, Josie chewing away on her bone (yes, there are bones in my bed) and watching Rocky and Wendy fight for the position closes to Joe's face, I know I love these dogs. They light up with energy the moment we walk in the door. I swear Wendy actually smiles, just like her Mom, Spike, used to.
They tell us when it is time for bed, by running to the stairs and then they all wait every night for my bedtime snack. They know there will be either cereal, ice cream or yogurt and Josie will do anything for a dairy product. We keep a container of Cheerios just for the dogs. And yes, they do eat steak for dinner. If it's good enough for us..........
Do I have a favorite? I have to admit Wendy is so much like Spike that she warms my heart the most. Life is just licks and kisses for Wendy. She cuddles better than any dog on earth, loves to be loved and gives it all back. The other dogs hate the cold, but not Wendy. She leaps into the snow and runs and leaps over the drifts, enjoying life. She was supposed to be Andy's dog, but she has stolen my heart.
Rocky is a little lover, quiet and sweet. After having Paco (mean little bugger that he was) I wanted a spunky little male to help heal my heart, after Paco passed away. Instead, I got Mr. Romeo.
People think we are crazy with our little brood of "rats" or "ankle biters" . What they don't know is that we get all the fun and love of a big dog without the big dirty paws. You can't snuggle with 4 labrador retrievers, but with our new king sized bed, they all fit quite nicely with room to spare and now my toes are warm every night.
Yesterday, Josie (the Queen) didn't feel well and Joe and I took turns all day checking on her. How did we know? We just did. The communication between dog and owner is often silent, but so often is the language of love.
I rode home thinking about just how much our 4 little pups mean to me. Now, usually I say that I hate Lucy. If we had seen the movie first, I would have insisted on naming her Marley. A constant quote from the movie, "You are the WORST dog in the whole world!" often applies to Lucy. She chews everything. She thinks the world is her potty. When we say "Potty Time!" Lucy runs up the stairs and hides under our covers. Lucy chases the cat and won't stop when I yell. Lucy does what Lucy wants.
Yesterday I found a baby's wooden block shredded in the hallway. Unfortunatley, I also found a prescription bottle with the BABY PROOF cap chewed off. There were 4 pills remaining and I prayed all night that she hadn't eaten one. Josie's last trip to the MSU Animal Emergency room was costly, from eating 2 ibuprofen.In the movie, Marley ate the couch. At our house, Lucy ate the new mattress cover on our king sized bed. Our room looked like a snowstorm had taken place. Marley chewed up his owner's fabric samples, but Josie has taught Lucy the pleasure of unwinding every ball of yarn that I am dumb enough to leave in reach. Joe is an expert at untangling them.
However, as I lay here in bed with Lucy warming my toes, Josie chewing away on her bone (yes, there are bones in my bed) and watching Rocky and Wendy fight for the position closes to Joe's face, I know I love these dogs. They light up with energy the moment we walk in the door. I swear Wendy actually smiles, just like her Mom, Spike, used to.
They tell us when it is time for bed, by running to the stairs and then they all wait every night for my bedtime snack. They know there will be either cereal, ice cream or yogurt and Josie will do anything for a dairy product. We keep a container of Cheerios just for the dogs. And yes, they do eat steak for dinner. If it's good enough for us..........
Do I have a favorite? I have to admit Wendy is so much like Spike that she warms my heart the most. Life is just licks and kisses for Wendy. She cuddles better than any dog on earth, loves to be loved and gives it all back. The other dogs hate the cold, but not Wendy. She leaps into the snow and runs and leaps over the drifts, enjoying life. She was supposed to be Andy's dog, but she has stolen my heart.Rocky is a little lover, quiet and sweet. After having Paco (mean little bugger that he was) I wanted a spunky little male to help heal my heart, after Paco passed away. Instead, I got Mr. Romeo.
People think we are crazy with our little brood of "rats" or "ankle biters" . What they don't know is that we get all the fun and love of a big dog without the big dirty paws. You can't snuggle with 4 labrador retrievers, but with our new king sized bed, they all fit quite nicely with room to spare and now my toes are warm every night.
Yesterday, Josie (the Queen) didn't feel well and Joe and I took turns all day checking on her. How did we know? We just did. The communication between dog and owner is often silent, but so often is the language of love.
