Paris, Ellie, & Sparky
Good Morning. I wanted to reflect a while on some very dear friends of mine. Last night, I went to lie down and read a bit about the scriptures, and I was pretty exhaused from the day. Had a touch of a headache as well. Anyway, I drifted off to sleep, lamp on, book open.... About an hour ago, nature called, and as I awoke, the lamp was off, my book on the nightstand and three hearts were beating close by. Sparky lay by the bedroom door, Paris lay at the side of my bed, and Ellie was snuggled up ON the bed at my feet. In my house, I used to sleep in a California King sized bed in the master bedroom. Here at my daughter's home, I have a small bedroom and I sleep in a single bed. Ellie, while not a "bed hog" is quite comfortable sleeping double in a single bed. I'm learning how to do the same.
Let me tell you about Sparky. He came to live with Barbara and I in 2002. I was driving home, and about a half mile from our house, I saw him wandering aimlessly along the road. He was only a pup. I slowed down and he ran towards the car. I couldn't just scoop him up and bring him home, because I thought Barbara might get pissed because we had 2 cats, and you know how dogs & cats can be. So I slowed down and stuck my head out the window and "encouraged" him to tag along. He did. It was a pretty long run for him, and as I pulled into my driveway, Barbara saw him, and instead of being angry, she fell in love with him on sight, just like I did. I made a half-assed attempt to find his owner, but when I did not locate them, Sparky joined our "family". The cats were not as thrilled with his arrival, but he was grateful for a home and was quite good around them. It did not take long for them to take up his friendship.
Over the years, Sparky has truly been my best friend. He never lied to me. He never stole from me. He never asked for anything of me but to be around me. He loved Barbara as well. We lived in a two story house, and he would sit on in the middle of the stairway and look out the window to the front porch and he would bark whenever anyone approached the house. That was HIS job, according to him. He was the "protecter". During the last month of Barbara's life, we had to set up a hospice bed with supplies downstairs since she could not walk, let alone go up the stairs. Sparky would lay at her side 24/7, except when he needed to go outside to do his "doggy business". I swear he cried when they wrapped Barbara's wasted, empty body in the sheet, put her on the gurney, and wheeled her away. His big, brown eyes looked so sad. Sparky earned his invitation to move to Arizona with my daughter and her family, and we are so thankful to still be together.
Paris is my son in law, David's dog. They got her just before my oldest grand daughter, Alison, was born 13 years ago. She is a mellow, most loving dog, and she has taken up the habit of lying at my side when I am on the computer, which is often. She is lying here as I type this. She seems to sense my pain, and her mere presence really does comfort me in a way that I can't articulate at this sitting. She is a real sweet-heart.
Ellie is the youngest of the bunch. She's about 4 years old and playful as a pup. She gets real frisky with the older dogs in the morning, and after wearing them out, they all take naps. She is also extremely affectionate. She is not shy about jumping into my lap, or on my bed and licking me where ever she can, whenever she can. She is a joy to be around.
So, back to the beginning of my story. When I woke up to find my friends at their posts in slumber, I quietly slipped out of bed, only to have all 3 of them wake up, their tails wagging like fans on a hot day, (which it will be again today), and their little doggy smiles evident on their faces. There are few better ways to wake up in the morning than to be greeted by a loved one, and I got THREE of them. So we went outside to watch the sun come up and enjoy a little peace before the grand kids and my son in law get up to start their busy days. Drinking my coffee, and pondering my situation in life, I could not help but count my lucky stars that I have these three friends to help me along my way.
So to Sparky, Paris, and Ellie, this song is for you guys. I love my dogs.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LMZ6I8EgMo&feature=related
For all of you fellow travellers who do not know the joy of having a dog, I hope this inspires you to go to the shelter & find one for YOU. I promise the both of you will be glad that you did. And have a wonderful day, my friends....mine has certainly begun that way................Joe...:-)
Let me tell you about Sparky. He came to live with Barbara and I in 2002. I was driving home, and about a half mile from our house, I saw him wandering aimlessly along the road. He was only a pup. I slowed down and he ran towards the car. I couldn't just scoop him up and bring him home, because I thought Barbara might get pissed because we had 2 cats, and you know how dogs & cats can be. So I slowed down and stuck my head out the window and "encouraged" him to tag along. He did. It was a pretty long run for him, and as I pulled into my driveway, Barbara saw him, and instead of being angry, she fell in love with him on sight, just like I did. I made a half-assed attempt to find his owner, but when I did not locate them, Sparky joined our "family". The cats were not as thrilled with his arrival, but he was grateful for a home and was quite good around them. It did not take long for them to take up his friendship.
Over the years, Sparky has truly been my best friend. He never lied to me. He never stole from me. He never asked for anything of me but to be around me. He loved Barbara as well. We lived in a two story house, and he would sit on in the middle of the stairway and look out the window to the front porch and he would bark whenever anyone approached the house. That was HIS job, according to him. He was the "protecter". During the last month of Barbara's life, we had to set up a hospice bed with supplies downstairs since she could not walk, let alone go up the stairs. Sparky would lay at her side 24/7, except when he needed to go outside to do his "doggy business". I swear he cried when they wrapped Barbara's wasted, empty body in the sheet, put her on the gurney, and wheeled her away. His big, brown eyes looked so sad. Sparky earned his invitation to move to Arizona with my daughter and her family, and we are so thankful to still be together.
Paris is my son in law, David's dog. They got her just before my oldest grand daughter, Alison, was born 13 years ago. She is a mellow, most loving dog, and she has taken up the habit of lying at my side when I am on the computer, which is often. She is lying here as I type this. She seems to sense my pain, and her mere presence really does comfort me in a way that I can't articulate at this sitting. She is a real sweet-heart.
Ellie is the youngest of the bunch. She's about 4 years old and playful as a pup. She gets real frisky with the older dogs in the morning, and after wearing them out, they all take naps. She is also extremely affectionate. She is not shy about jumping into my lap, or on my bed and licking me where ever she can, whenever she can. She is a joy to be around.
So, back to the beginning of my story. When I woke up to find my friends at their posts in slumber, I quietly slipped out of bed, only to have all 3 of them wake up, their tails wagging like fans on a hot day, (which it will be again today), and their little doggy smiles evident on their faces. There are few better ways to wake up in the morning than to be greeted by a loved one, and I got THREE of them. So we went outside to watch the sun come up and enjoy a little peace before the grand kids and my son in law get up to start their busy days. Drinking my coffee, and pondering my situation in life, I could not help but count my lucky stars that I have these three friends to help me along my way.
So to Sparky, Paris, and Ellie, this song is for you guys. I love my dogs.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LMZ6I8EgMo&feature=related
For all of you fellow travellers who do not know the joy of having a dog, I hope this inspires you to go to the shelter & find one for YOU. I promise the both of you will be glad that you did. And have a wonderful day, my friends....mine has certainly begun that way................Joe...:-)
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