esrosedotblog

ANNIVERSARY

Today is the anniversary of Franklin's joining our family. We went to Victorville to 'look' at some Airedale puppies (but we took a crate just in case) and met Franklin and his brother in a kennel. The breeder had decided that the brother was going to be our dog and had cleaned him up and given him a haircut. One problem, the brother was not interested in us very much. He had bonded to the breeder. Franklin, on the other hand, was all over us, sweet, playful, personality plus. It was instant attraction; 'like' at first sight. And, as we often tell him, this was especially dramatic since he was one shaggy stinky pup.

We closed the deal on the spot and took him to the car. The little guy stood on our laps and hugged our necks (first mine, then John's) all the way to Palm Springs. He never got to use his new crate during the trip. We could not and would not let him go. We got to stop on the way at a rest stop; he met another dog who belonged to to lesbians that we had meet there. They gave him a drink, he met his first non-airedale, and we had a bit of a walk and a pee on the grass.

When we got home, he was ours and we were his. With the fearful ride; the Interstate with all those trucks and noise; the hour long hugs had done it. We took him outside to show him his new yard. We had decided that his place to pee would be the olive tree just outside the kitchen. No. He ambled out to the back yard on the other side of the pool and did his business. The first act of civil disobedience. He was civil and he did what he wanted.

Today he still goes out there. I told you we had the new grass put in. Sometimes his pee makes brown spots. It is OK. I got some seed, some is growing back on its own. It is a nice reminder that it is still his place and he gets to use it when he needs to whether we have prettied it up or not. He gets a vote. He is quite a guy. We have more fun together than we thought would ever be possible.

Today, we have friends coming to stay with us a few days. They will get to hear the story of the stinky puppy who came home with us that day. Franklin will cringe and wish we didn't have to tell it all over again. It is SO embarrassing. But we will tell it all anyway and then give him a big hug. Not an hour long hug but long enough to remember the day.