One year ago today our amazing Beast came into this world! I have to admit I was never a dog person! In fact, I’m sure everyone who knew me could attest to the fact that I was an anti dog person! All the poop, the hair, the dog smells were things I could not stand!
Despite that, I had a secret love for our Bassett hound that craig loved so much and grew up with. When no one else was home, I would sit out by the pool and play with Charlie and pet him and give him treats! I would complain about him a lot, but I always did it with a hidden smile at all the crazy things he did! The day he wandered off, I believe to find a place to die because he was very old and in some pain, I looked for him for days! When I finally gave up, I sat in the car and cried my eyes out, but I never told anyone else that. How could I have been anti dog and feel so bad for the loss? I did not want to seem like a hypocrite so I just left it at that and let people think it didn’t really bother me.
When I married Phyllis, the kids wanted a dog, but as I had said before, I did not want a dog. I had always sworn I would never have an indoor dog, but wow, how life changes you in ways you can never imagine. The kids dad had promised to get them a dog or 2 at some point and we had all come to a sort of agreement that we would coparent the dogs and move them back and forth with the kids which would make it easier on everyone. I made that agreement thinking Jeff would never get around to it and the kids would out grow it. Boy, was I wrong again! It’s amazing how many times you look back in life and realize how many times you were really wrong!
When Jeff passed away last year, I made a promise to the kids that when I retired, I would get them a dog! Again, I said it to put them off and make them feel better, but this time I made a promise and if they asked, I vowed to keep that promise. I really thought it would be at least 2-3 years before I retired, but then through a series of events, I managed to retire in May of 2017. The day we told the kids I was retiring, they all paused and looked at each other and as one said, we can get a dog now!!! Ooooops!!! So much for forgetting!
I knew I had to keep my promise. I started researching dogs. While I realize rescuing a dog would have been nice, my family had too many crazy mutts while I was growing up! At least if I got a puppy of the breed I selected, if he turns out crazy, I have only myself to blame. So off I went! After an extensive search, I found an amazing breeder and an amazing breed! The first time I saw a Portuguese Water Dog, I fell in love! The way things worked out, I can only believe it was God’s plan in God’s time that we found our amazing Beast!
When we finally got to bring Beast home in June, it changed our lives forever! He and I are together almost all the time! When I have to leave him, I have the separation anxiety instead of him! He has canoed, hiked, camped and run his heart out with me and with the whole family! I knew that for it to work, I had to love the dog! As much as the kids love him and Phyllis loves him, he is with me and is a huge part of my life in retirement! Don’t get me wrong! He can drive me absolutely crazy! From eating my computer wire early on to destroying a lamp a few days ago, he is a puppy full of energy and now at 60 pounds can drag me and the kids off our feet! It is A LOT of work!! However, it is worth every minute! When he looks at me with those brown eyes, I just melt! He can get me to do anything! It’s worse than kids because he just stares! He doesn’t whine or bark most of the time! He just stands there and stares and I can’t resist!!
I never understood people and dogs, but now I am one of them! The first thing I look at when I look for places to go is whether it is dog friendly! He has been an amazing therapy for the kids and he makes us all laugh so much! He isn’t a pet or a dog, he is part of our family and he brings so much unconditional love to our lives! We will have a party for him this weekend and while I realize he can’t read this and he won’t have any idea why he is getting extra treats and gifts, I still just have to say how much I love him and I am so glad I finally opened my heart to this boy! I am an unashamed dog lover now! I check his poop to make sure he is healthy (I do expect to see a license plate fall out one day like in jaws! When he gets a chance he will still eat anything!), the dog smell to me now is like roses, and the joy of giving him a hug lights my heart up! Happy first birthday Beast! I hope you know every day of your life how much you are loved! (Yeah, I know he can’t read this, but I talk to him every day and he probably has no idea what I am talking about! Makes me feel good though!!)
