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Stories From My Life #8: Dogs are the Best Friends I've Ever Had

I know that the title of this post is kind of sad, but for me it is true. Throughout my life my dogs are the ones who have been there through thick and thin. They've been there and listened to me cry and lament about my troubles. They don't complain. They don't have to "make time for me." They love me unconditionally. They have been my comfort when people in my life leave me either through their choice, my choice, or death. I've talked about Jean-Luc and Cosette before. Cosette is still living her best life in Wyoming with Marce, who I know loves her as much as I ever could have. Jean-Luc is in heaven and is never far from my heart. When he went to heaven, like Ben, he took a piece of me with him that I can never fill again.


I know that the title of this post is kind of sad, but for me it is true. Throughout my life my dogs are the ones who have been there through thick and thin. They've been there and listened to me cry and lament about my troubles. They don't complain. They don't have to "make time for me." They love me unconditionally. They have been my comfort when people in my life leave me either through their choice, my choice, or death. I've talked about Jean-Luc and Cosette before. Cosette is still living her best life in Wyoming with Marce, who I know loves her as much as I ever could have. Jean-Luc is in heaven and is never far from my heart. When he went to heaven, like Ben, he took a piece of me with him that I can never fill again.



There was also Bradley. I got him when Alec broke up with Allie. They adopted him together and when they brought him over to introduce him, I fell in love. I would actually miss him when he was at Allie's house. When they broke up and Alec brought him home, I took over his care and he became my dog. That dog would do anything for a biscuit; spin around, lay down and turn over, stand on his back legs, play dead, come, fetch, and sit with the biscuit on his snout until we said that he could eat it. He was a good one. I really hope that my loved ones in heaven greeted them all with open arms and when I get there, I'll finally have the right number of dogs to feed my soul.


We had a dog named, Dusty. Before Dusty we had a schnauzer named Mr. Magoo who died of a sudden heart attack in front of us in our backyard. Super traumatic. We also had a dalmatian named, Mitzi who had a very large little of puppies. (Loved the movie, 101 Dalmatians.) Then just before Dusty, we had a dachshund, named Herman the German. I loved that dog and so did my mother, but he was very headstrong and he loved the ladies.;0)(This was before most dogs were "fixed.") He supposedly went to live on a farm.


Anyway we got Dusty, a Silky Terrier. Terry came up with his name due to his long hair dusting the floor. Clever. He quickly became my mother's dog. He followed her everywhere. He kept her company while she lay in bed recovering from her many surgeries and her long battle with cancer.




After she passed away we had Dusty for about ten more years. Max claimed him as her dog. He didn't understand that she was the evil interloper, no matter how many times I whispered it into his little ears.




When we moved to California in 1973, I made it my mission to keep him away from her as much as possible. I'd take him to my room, put him in my bike basket, walk him to the horse stables, etc., etc. One evening when I wasn't home he got out and they couldn't find him. Terry and I went out looking. Terry found him - he had been hit by a car. They didn't even take him to the vet. I think they assumed he would just die.


I stayed up all night and refused to go to school until he was better. He survived, but I couldn't endure life with Bruce and Max. They moved to Illinois. I went with them, but soon flew back to live in California. I graduated, ran off, and got married. When I was pregnant with my first son (I didn't know I was pregnant) I went to see Dusty at their home in San Jose (yes, they moved again.) That was 1980. He died shortly after my visit. I like to think that he waited to say goodbye to me. Rest in Peace, Dusty. Until we meet again.


When I met Bob he had two dogs, Ollie and Mack. After Jean-Luc and Cosette went to live in Wyoming, I still had Bobby. It's been about ten months since we said goodbye to Ollie.



So now we have Mack and Bobby are best buds. They hang together all day. Bobby likes to groom Mack and I think Mack enjoys it. They get the zoomies around 8:30-9:00 every night and chase each other to the bedroom and back. They are so hysterical. I've watched them chase and chase and chase, go get a drink and then start chasing again. It's like one of them said, "Time out!" They love to go in the RV and sit on the dashboard.







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