Dear Friends,
I came across some postcards of dogs and had to have them. They're in the style of pictures I remember seeing in the World Book encyclopedias. The "D" one. Yes, my parents bought a set. It was on of the most precious gifts I can remember. They weren't just for me, but for the whole family. I devoured them.
It was one of the items in my childhood where I felt like a normal girl in school. When the teacher spoke about writing reports, she would tell us to use the encyclopedias we had at home. Then came the sad voice dripping with pity, "If you don't have them you can use the ones in the library." Usually, I was on the team receiving the sad voice, but not this time.
My parents really loved learning and I remember on good nights we had trivia conversations at the house. Only it wasn't just trivia, like in the past. It was who did this? State Capitols. Did you know type things. These nights my mom's smile lit the room, no lighting needed. I think she lived for these "normal" nights. I did.
I came across some postcards of dogs and had to have them. They're in the style of pictures I remember seeing in the World Book encyclopedias. The "D" one. Yes, my parents bought a set. It was on of the most precious gifts I can remember. They weren't just for me, but for the whole family. I devoured them.
It was one of the items in my childhood where I felt like a normal girl in school. When the teacher spoke about writing reports, she would tell us to use the encyclopedias we had at home. Then came the sad voice dripping with pity, "If you don't have them you can use the ones in the library." Usually, I was on the team receiving the sad voice, but not this time.
My parents really loved learning and I remember on good nights we had trivia conversations at the house. Only it wasn't just trivia, like in the past. It was who did this? State Capitols. Did you know type things. These nights my mom's smile lit the room, no lighting needed. I think she lived for these "normal" nights. I did.
I poured through these books and subjects, and mystical places, exotic things and boring items too. But the "D" book, I gorged on. Dogs. I loved dogs, horses and pretty much any animal in existence. It's no secret my passion for horses, but in my childhood it was a fantasy pet.
As a matter of fact I had a picture of a black horse next to a tree in a lush valley hanging on my bedroom wall. It was a gift. In my imagination it was a mighty stallion looking for me. I told my friends it was my horse, but it lived in Georgia with my grandparents.
The crazy thing is I told my best friend Bonnie this and she knew it wasn't true. I was lying. I didn't feel like I was lying because I really, really wanted it to be true. I needed it to be true Perhaps it was my first foray into manifesting my dreams. P.S. I now own a black horse. She's not a stallion but I dare you to tell her that.
While horses may as well been the elusive unicorn, the impossible dream, dogs were not. We had them as pets and I saw them every where.
As a matter of fact I had a picture of a black horse next to a tree in a lush valley hanging on my bedroom wall. It was a gift. In my imagination it was a mighty stallion looking for me. I told my friends it was my horse, but it lived in Georgia with my grandparents.
The crazy thing is I told my best friend Bonnie this and she knew it wasn't true. I was lying. I didn't feel like I was lying because I really, really wanted it to be true. I needed it to be true Perhaps it was my first foray into manifesting my dreams. P.S. I now own a black horse. She's not a stallion but I dare you to tell her that.
While horses may as well been the elusive unicorn, the impossible dream, dogs were not. We had them as pets and I saw them every where.
The first dog I remember was a black and white dog with a black mask. Her name was Bandit. She was a stray we took in. I think. She was pregnant and at a very young age I saw puppies come into the world. It was glorious.
Here's a list of dogs who owned me.
Here's a list of dogs who owned me.
- Bandit
- Duffy, he was our dog when we moved to the trailer park. Some asshole's dog had a litter of pups and he threw them out the window. A bunch of kids including me grabbed one. My friend Bonnie, who I told the fantasy (lie) to got one as well. His name was puddles.
- Shady and Shadow. Two pitbulls. One was black and one was black and white.
- Snickers, a sweetheart who looked like a Bernese mountain dog as a pup, but he was some kind of spaniel. He just had the Bernese colors.
- Moose. A Newfoundland. I was desperate for a pug. One day my husband and I decided to pull the trigger and go get one. We went to this pet store which always had pugs. ALWAYS. Except that day. In the middle of the puppy area were this litter of Newfoundlands. They looked like black bear cubs. Oh my stars, we had to have one.
- Present day. Mojo and Goldberg. My husband and I went to the pound to pick a dog. We wanted one of the black lab pups but they weren't available yet. Right next to them was another litter. Of course they were pit mixed dogs. All of them looked like brown pitbulls, except for one creme one. He looked like a Labrador. Well, that reminds me of the dog, Jackson. we owned for a hot minute. He was a yellow lab from the pound. He was a runner. You could not open the door and he was out fast as you please. We were afraid he was going to get hit by a car. We found him a home on a farm. Back to the two babies. My husband picked the cream colored lab looking one and I picked a brown pitbull looking one. We let them play together in the room you visit with the dogs. I don't know why we were pretending to pick which one was coming home with us when we both knew full well they are both ours. Moose, the Newfoundland was a senior by then and he hated the idea. They are now 12 years old.
- Mama: Well, technically her name is Mya but it turned into mama. She's never had a baby. We stopped at a feed store in Kettle falls to by some chicks for a neighbor. His chickens were at the point of not laying eggs. So, we decided what a wonderful Father's Day gift to bring. In the middle of the store sat a cardboard box with two pups. One awake and one sleeping. A lady stood there deciding which one she wanted. We tried talking her into taking both to no avail. She chose the one who was awake. Then went off to buy puppy supplies. On her way out she grabbed her pup. The minute that puppy left the other woke up and cried. Oh shit. We asked the clerk how much for the puppy, and of course she was free. We all know the story of free dogs and cats. And...after all of this our neighbor didn't want the chicks and we had to take them back.
Dogs have always, thankfully, been in my life. They're everything good, and if you are a dog person you know what I mean.
Back to the encyclopedias. This is where I ingested everything I could about each breed. I made my dream list of the dogs I would have in different types of homes. I wish I still had the encyclopedia "D", so I could see how many I have had the honor of meeting throughout my life. While I had my favorites, I would have happily taken anyone.
Newsflash! I bought the "D" World Book off of E-Bay. It's everything I remembered it to be. Now I have to find the ones I've met and go in search of the ones I haven't met.
Back to the encyclopedias. This is where I ingested everything I could about each breed. I made my dream list of the dogs I would have in different types of homes. I wish I still had the encyclopedia "D", so I could see how many I have had the honor of meeting throughout my life. While I had my favorites, I would have happily taken anyone.
Newsflash! I bought the "D" World Book off of E-Bay. It's everything I remembered it to be. Now I have to find the ones I've met and go in search of the ones I haven't met.
My dream dog was the glamorous, exquisite, bewitching Afghan hound. The long hair and tall stature captivated me. I dreamt of meeting one. I finally did, not one, but three.
In one of my wanders through the trailer park I heard barking and of course I looked to see who it was. Three supermodels looked at me through a chainlink fence. I sat down on the lawn and stared. I didn't know the people who lived there so I didn't dare go closer.
They were everything I thought they would be and more. Everyday I visited them. I don't believe I ever met their humans. It was enough to see them, talk with them and just be in their presence.
Recently I was toying with the idea of getting one. I mean I am an adult and can have another dog if I want. Well, I researched the breed and could live with their habits and personality traits both good and bad. Except.... evidently housebreaking can be a nightmare. Sorry future Fabio or Loreal but I can't live with that. Perhaps the real reason I wanted one was to feel pretty and hope the presence of their splendor would seep into my skin. But poop in the house, well that aint pretty doll. So, I will admire you from afar.
In one of my wanders through the trailer park I heard barking and of course I looked to see who it was. Three supermodels looked at me through a chainlink fence. I sat down on the lawn and stared. I didn't know the people who lived there so I didn't dare go closer.
They were everything I thought they would be and more. Everyday I visited them. I don't believe I ever met their humans. It was enough to see them, talk with them and just be in their presence.
Recently I was toying with the idea of getting one. I mean I am an adult and can have another dog if I want. Well, I researched the breed and could live with their habits and personality traits both good and bad. Except.... evidently housebreaking can be a nightmare. Sorry future Fabio or Loreal but I can't live with that. Perhaps the real reason I wanted one was to feel pretty and hope the presence of their splendor would seep into my skin. But poop in the house, well that aint pretty doll. So, I will admire you from afar.
Another breed I was fascinated by is the Irish Wolfhound. C'mon how can you not be enamored by the tallest dog in the world? I never laid eyes on one until I moved to Washington state.
There's a lady who lives not far from me who has two. I always see them in her front yard. Many times I would reroute my drive just to get a glimpse at them. The lady who owns them is in a wheelchair and many times I see her walking her dog. Or is he pulling her like a sled?
Awhile ago her and her husband were having troubles. He has severe health problems too. I don't know the whole story, or the true story, but people were provoking her dogs and actually injured one of the dog's face. The house is on a main road with lots of foot traffic. They jump up on the average size chain link fence to greet people. Not all people deserve to be greeted it seems.
The couple had other problems with their house and yard due to their physical limitations. A new neighbor moved in and complained about things in her yard. While the things he did were a weird kind of bullying it actually turned out well.
A call for help on the Next-door app and people showed up to help clean the yard and make house repairs. The most important fix was changing the fence to a taller one so the dogs weren't accessible to the people walking by.
There's a lady who lives not far from me who has two. I always see them in her front yard. Many times I would reroute my drive just to get a glimpse at them. The lady who owns them is in a wheelchair and many times I see her walking her dog. Or is he pulling her like a sled?
Awhile ago her and her husband were having troubles. He has severe health problems too. I don't know the whole story, or the true story, but people were provoking her dogs and actually injured one of the dog's face. The house is on a main road with lots of foot traffic. They jump up on the average size chain link fence to greet people. Not all people deserve to be greeted it seems.
The couple had other problems with their house and yard due to their physical limitations. A new neighbor moved in and complained about things in her yard. While the things he did were a weird kind of bullying it actually turned out well.
A call for help on the Next-door app and people showed up to help clean the yard and make house repairs. The most important fix was changing the fence to a taller one so the dogs weren't accessible to the people walking by.
I have so much more to say about dogs. We'll chat about it another day. But I will close this letter for now and wish you a dog-gone good day.
Love,
Kelly
Love,
Kelly