May 21, 2009

My Girl



Jane: Until we brought Daisy home, we'd always owned male dogs. Somehow, it just made sense. In a household of one male and three female humans (our two daughters and me), Rich was clearly outnumbered. So whenever he needed to escape a brewing estrogen storm, he'd take Bo, or Buddy, on long walks around the neighborhood. Two guys on a mission--to escape the high drama of life with three women.

When we lost our black Lab Buddy at age 12 to cancer, it took us two years to be able to hang our hopes and our hearts on another dog. Enter Boomer, our black Lab male pup, who came home at 10 weeks of age 26 months ago.

I loved Bo, I adored Buddy, and I've spoiled Boomer. But despite my involvement and investment in "my boys," for some mysterious reason every one of them has been "Rich's dog." Oh, not that they didn't respond to my affectionate overtures. In fact Buddy would often plant himself in a sit, turn back, and watch and wait for me to join in on a walk. I felt like a queen!

But at night it has always the same: Each boy ended up on the floor by Rich's side of the bed. Our first dog, Bo, would go thump, thump, thump every morning by Rich's side as his mighty tail excitedly greeted the day. Then Buddy, who would stand on hind legs to gave Rich a daily tongue bath in bed (an effort, I suspect, to move along our waking-up process). And now Boomer, who usually ends up lying on Rich in the morning, or hovering around him in the bathroom (male bonding indeed!) to make sure he doesn't miss any moves toward the food bowl or dog park.

Enter Daisy, our first girl, now 5 months old. Last night we freed Daisy from her kennel for the night, and she slept on the floor by my side of the bed. Imagine my surprise! What's more, every morning after she's fed, if I'm still in bed, she trots upstairs, pads across the hardwood floor to the bed, and jumps on hind legs to greet me with wags and snuffles and her sweet little "smile."

At first I thought her behavior was a fluke. Surely she'll end up on Rich's side, I thought. They all eventually do.

Yet days have turned into weeks, and still Daisy begins our mornings by my side of the bed--and now her evenings end that way, too.

It may sound silly, but this has actually made me shed some happy tears. In a way I'd never experienced with Bo and Buddy and Boomer, Daisy and I have bonded. In a real sense, she's "my dog." My girl. And she sleeps by my side of the bed. And I simply can't explain how wonderful that makes me feel.

11 comments:

  1. I totally understand. My husband gets kind of jealous because Tank will let me do ANYTHING to him, but will growl at hubby. I love the picture of Daisy on the dishwasher door - so cute. Tank's Personal Assistant
    (1st time I have ever left my own comment btw!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awww. It makes us feel good, too. And we understand. Each furry family member assumes his or her own very special place in the constellation. Like no other. In ways that can't be duplicated or replaced. We are happy that Daisy has found her very special role - it is clearly a wonderful one. Perfect for you both.

    Affectionately
    Jake and Fergi

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hehehe! Those choppers are Jake's! It was the boy-dog who was playing in the eye shadow (and having a great time, I might add!) I (Fergi) was being a good girl. Following doctor's orders and quietly resting! Hehehehe! Jake got CAUGHT red handed - rather, ginger-legged! (But no one is mad!)

    Miss Fergi (smooches to Daisy)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love a story with a happy ending!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What adorable dogs you have.

    Molly and Taffy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi, hi, hi! It's very nice to meet all of you! We can totally relate to your story! Penny is Dad's dog and Patches and I are totally Mom's doggies!

    Aire-hugs,
    Poppy, Penny & Patches

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is great to see that you are open to that kind of connection. Loss closes off a part of us that takes a bit to retrieve. Who better to bring it back than another dog...

    ReplyDelete
  8. what a beautiful little princess - and a wonderful story - my boy is my shadow and but my girl leaves me every chance she gets - when ever i have company over she goes and sleps with them.

    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is always awesome to have someone so lovable greeting you in the morning. Callie always seems to wake mom in the middle of the night to do her potties. Of course she has to check everything out in the backyard before she can return to go upstairs to sleep.. Mom says at least she tells me when she has to go..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for visiting our blog, we came to say hi. We are a pack of one female and two males. Dakota is the princess and is very attached to Mom even if she IS Dad's baby. One of the males is very aloof but still gravitates more to Mom, and the baby TD is totally into Mom.

    You are all beautiful.

    Woos, the OP Pack

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi there,

    Sorry we haven't been by to visit before but our computer is dead. Me and Mommy are in the country for the weekend and we got a chase to come by. Just wanted to say hello. Hopefully the computer will get fixed up soon.

    {{{huggies}}}...Mona & the Mommy too!!

    ReplyDelete

KitchenAid

KitchenAid
"Daisy, are they clean yet?"

Happiness Is . . .

Happiness Is . . .
a warm puppy named Daisy!