It got me to thinking about dogs I have had in my life, and I began to reminisce about them.
The first dog friend that I have any memory of, was my great aunts big Collie namd Ginger. Ginger was her most faithful companion for many, many years as she lived alone on a farm in Illinois. Aunt Ota never married, so her animals where her dearest friends. There was a time in my life that my brothers and I lived on this farm with Aunt Ota for a short time. Dear Ginger was so patient with us kids as we tugged and pulled at her very long, luxurious hair. We even tried to ride her like a horse. She never got upset or tried to injure us in any way. Maybe I should be more like Ginger and be completely loving and patient and forgiving, no matter what might come my way. Lesson number one learned from a dog.
Another dear canine friend that I remember was Poncho. Poncho was a Cocker Spaniel that we got as a puppie. He was a rambutious kidder. He loved to take something (usually something he wasn't supposed to have) and run as fast as he could away from us. Poncho was also a digger. Poncho slept with me and was my very best buddy. Because of my family issues, it sure was nice to have a friend who didn't judge or complain about all of the dysfunction present in my and his life. He was just there when I needed a friend the most. One of my saddest days was when I came home from school one day and he was gone. No explanation or anything, he was just GONE. The lesson I learned from this was that when you lose a friend you will be so sad,and not understand why they had to go so suddenly. But the good memories will sustain you in times of need. I have often wondered what happened to Poncho. I hope he ended up in a good home with a little girl to sleep with and to love him unconditionally.
Then there was Buff. Buff was a huge collie mix. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. I named her Buff from the book, Buff A Dog, that I read many times. I loved to read stories about animals. Now a days I can't read or watch most animal stories as I know that something bad is going to happen and it breaks my heart. One time Buff gave us 13 puppies. Can you imagine having that many puppies running around. She had the first one outside in the cold, cold weather and it didn't survive. I remember wrapping the little one up in a big towel to try to warm its little shivering body. It didn't last the night and I cried for this little soul that I never got to know. She was a dear companion and I think about her now and then. I guess the lesson I learned from her is that our children grow up way too soon and leave us. What we have left are the wonderful memories of their childhoods and fun times we had together as we romped and played.
Then there was Freddie. Freddie was a Cockapoo and oh my was he something. I remember when we brought him home from a trip to Kansas. Back then we had no air conditioning in the car. When we drove we would spray ourselves with water or wet out shirts completely just for some relief from the heat that blasted us through our open car windows. He was suffering too and commandeered one of the wet towels for himself. I should have known that he would be a pistol for his whole life. His favorite thing to do was "door dive". The minute a door was open, he was out and gone. Many a time the neighbors could see one of our family, running furiously after him to try to catch him before he got run over by a car. We could be heard like a famous movie yelling "Freddie come back, come back freddie.". In the end it was completely hopeless. He would not even look back. He was having a ball. I guess what I learned from Freddie was to enjoy life, even if you have to door dive once in a while. Life is short, so enjoy and treasure every moment.
- One time Trapper saved me. I was in the barn feeding the horses and somehow stepped off of a pallet and -didn't know it at the tine - broke my ankle. It was winter and the snow was blowing and no one up at the house would have ever heard my cries for help. But Trapper did. He took me up to the house one slow step at a time while I leaned on his back. He seemed to know that I needed him then and he was the only one that could help. I will never forget that event. He was my savior that day. How I loved that dog and how I still miss him.
One day I was out riding and of course the dogs were along for the ride. All at once they both spotted a rabbit in the middle the pasture. With keen accuracy they both took off from different ends of the pasture to "get the rabbitt". The rabbit seeing it's predicament chose to go sideways. The dogs kept on running and passed each other in the middle, but the rabbit was long gone. I don't think that either one of them knew what had happened. What an adventure they had. They didn't care, they were having great fun. I laughed so hard, it is amazing that I didn't fall off my horse.
Drummer was my Christmas present one year. We got him at the animal shelter. He was a "run away" dog. No one could keep him corraled. He was always visiting neighbors, some of whom kept treats just for him when he came to visit. When we came out of the shelter with him, The Little Drummer Boy was playing on the radio. Hence his name, "Drummer".
Drummer was a thief. If you dropped something on the floor, it was his. We lived next door to a horse stable and he was always carrying home other peoples grooming tools. We didn't know it for a long time as he would "hide" them behind a berm we had in the front of the house. If Don was cutting wood, he would run off with the piece that hit the Ground. One time Kandis was cutting some wood and didn't know his propensity for thievery and she couldn't figure out what was happening to her cut pieces of wood. She still talks about it to this day.
He would not chase a ball, but he would bury them. One time when I called him in for the night, it was already dark and I had to turn on the front porch light to see him. Sitting right there with a big grin on his face was Drummer with three, yes three, tennis balls in his mouth saying "see, I will retrieve balls". Of course, they were all muddy, since they had been buried for who know how long. I didn't care, I let him in with those muddy balls. What a character he was.
Trapper and Drummer taught me how hard it is to let go of someone you love. Even writing about it today brings tears to my eyes as recall all of the wonderful times our family had with these two dogs. They were everyone's favorites. All of the kids agree, we will never have the privilege of loving two dogs as much as we loved them. I thank Heavenly Father for the great happiness and love they brought to us. What I learned from dear Trapper and Drummer was that love is unending. I learned that is okay to have fun and play tricks on those you love as long as you wag your tail while you do it. I learned that kisses are good things and everyone needs then whether they know it or not. The slobbery the better. I learned about devotion and cherishing those we love without judging and always being there for them with some wiggles and kisses and a paw to shake.
I will never forget you and I look forward to long horseback rides in the hills, chasing rabbits, swimming in ponds, and hiding tennis balls again in the place we call "Pet Heaven". If we can't have our pets with us when we pass from this life, I am not going. Just saying.
