I've never written about my "BBF" before this,
but they are worth a line of note every now and then.
There has not be a time in the last 35 years,
that I didn't have them close at my side for comfort.
Many years ago, we both worked long days in the grocery store,
and felt it would be cruel to leave a pet alone all day.
Many years ago, we both worked long days in the grocery store,
and felt it would be cruel to leave a pet alone all day.
But then a life changing event changed all that.
30 years ago, my husband's children disappeared.
They weren't returned after a visit.
His ex-wife had remarried a truck driver.
We began to see signs of abuse,
but could get no help from any agency
But she fled, with four small children in tow,
for fear of any interference from the courts.
It would take several years before
that horrid legal mess was ever straightened out.
They moved around a lot,
which made my husband crazy with worry.
We had an attorney of course, but little could be done.
Then we were offered a golden retriever by a friend.
We were sitting at the dinner table, and my husband said,
"So little man,what shall we name her?"
We were eating hamburgers, so the small voice said,
"Well she looks just like the color of this toasted bun."
The three of us laughed, and Dad said,
"Okay, Toasted Buns it is"
Our 4 years old son named him "Buns."
(We dropped the toasted; yelling the word "Buns,"
out the back door was embarrassing enough.)
After about 4 months, and a destroyed kitchen,
we realized Buns was lonely.
A friend of my husband was raising a litter of goldens.
We drove 2 hours through a snowstorm to his farm,
to pick out the newest member of our family.
We were not in their garage, in the puppy bin,
for more than a few seconds, when a little friend,
came bouncing over to my sons arms.
For anyone that has ever picked a pup from a litter,
that is how you know that's the one for you!
"Biscuits" was also named by our 4 yr old,
And the two pups became fast, and inseparable friends,
laying at our bedsides under the stars.
Unfortunately some of the destruction continued!
Since those days long ago, I have had many goldens,
and been through some tough life moments,
with them by my side for comfort.
There once was a time, though, not too many years ago,
that I had what I will call "a mini breakdown."
My life was in total turmoil and confusion.
I wrestled with the thought of seeing if an adoptive agency
was a good idea for my beloved pets.
It was one of the worse moments of my life.
I had come home, after hearing my Dad was ill again.
No one had let the dogs out, fed them, or given them fresh water,
as they had been told to do as chores, repeatedly.
I exploded, and said that was it, they were leaving us.
My older son helped as we loaded them into the car,
and drove them to a "well respected" adoption agency.
I began sobbing about 1/2 mile down the road.
The very next day, not 15 hours later,
I called the agency telling them we wanted the dogs back.
"Impossible, and paperwork irreversible," was their reply.
My husband called. The attorney called.
A friend tried to adopt them. Even the mayor called them.
We hired an attorney, but were told
there are no laws governing contracts on animals.
You can buy a subscription, a car, or even a washer,
and change your mind in 3 business days.
But not on an animal, of any kind.
The judge reprimanded the adoptive agency,
but the dogs were in new homes now.
And even though I knew they were in good homes,
I still cried every night for almost two months.
Then along came one of the happier moments
between my daughter and I.
We were united in a goal to find new puppies.
We had a gigantic Garage Sale, and even her friends helped.
Then one Sunday, we left for Iowa to pick out a new puppy.
Storms were expected, and we had talked to the breeder earlier.
When we finally got there, no one was around,
but we scoped the place out, and did not like what we saw.
It was a dirty place, in the country, and in a cove of trees,
were several full grown goldens fenced in.
They did not look abused, but the place gave us a bad feeling.
So on to "Plan B" , we said, and got out the Sunday paper.
We called one of the more expensive breeders.
They were at the top of the state in Rockford.
At least a 3 hour drive, and the pups were not ready.
But we definitely could pick one out.
So, off we went chatting away in the car, to places unknown,
through a horrible rainstorm to find a new family member.
We got there, and were so relieved to see a puppy pen
filled with 8 of the most adorable creatures on earth.
One puppy came instantly to each of us, and we giggled.
"Dad will freak out if we get two," Lexi said.
"I guess I'll have to use my powers of persuasion,
and also tell him we'll have another garage sale!"
(Which we did, AFTER we brought home 2 instead of 1...!)
We both laughed, and the breeder took our deposit.
Driving home the "Puppy smell" lingered on our clothing.
Four weeks later, we took the 3 hour drive to pick up our pups.
Before we took the long drive home,
I took a picture of her glowing, as she held a pup in each arm,
and I keep it in my favorite pictures album.
The truck had that wonderful "Puppy Smell" in it,
I flip though those pictures whenever I'm feeling a little low.
Mocha and Muffin, named after my favorite breakfast,
are still by my side today, and every night they are close by.
They make my life whole, and are never failing
when it comes to greeting me when I walk in the door.
It is such a joy to watch them chase squirrels up the oak tree,
or noses under the shed, tails wagging, waiting for a chipmunk to appear.
The birds ignore them now, and we fenced in "their" part of the yard,
ever since since the coyotes started appearing.
If you are ever faced with a feeling of being over whelmed,
with your life, your health, or your children,
just go somewhere quiet and peaceful.
Don't blame the kids, or the pets, or even yourself.
If you can't gather your thoughts together, ask for help.
Don't make the same mistake that I did.
The pain of losing Cookie and Coco is still with me.
I know it will last a lifetime.
30 years ago, my husband's children disappeared.
They weren't returned after a visit.
His ex-wife had remarried a truck driver.
We began to see signs of abuse,
but could get no help from any agency
But she fled, with four small children in tow,
for fear of any interference from the courts.
It would take several years before
that horrid legal mess was ever straightened out.
They moved around a lot,
which made my husband crazy with worry.
We had an attorney of course, but little could be done.
Then we were offered a golden retriever by a friend.
We were sitting at the dinner table, and my husband said,
"So little man,what shall we name her?"
We were eating hamburgers, so the small voice said,
"Well she looks just like the color of this toasted bun."
The three of us laughed, and Dad said,
"Okay, Toasted Buns it is"
Our 4 years old son named him "Buns."
(We dropped the toasted; yelling the word "Buns,"
out the back door was embarrassing enough.)
After about 4 months, and a destroyed kitchen,
we realized Buns was lonely.
A friend of my husband was raising a litter of goldens.
We drove 2 hours through a snowstorm to his farm,
to pick out the newest member of our family.
We were not in their garage, in the puppy bin,
for more than a few seconds, when a little friend,
came bouncing over to my sons arms.
For anyone that has ever picked a pup from a litter,
that is how you know that's the one for you!
"Biscuits" was also named by our 4 yr old,
And the two pups became fast, and inseparable friends,
laying at our bedsides under the stars.
Unfortunately some of the destruction continued!
Since those days long ago, I have had many goldens,
and been through some tough life moments,
with them by my side for comfort.
There once was a time, though, not too many years ago,
that I had what I will call "a mini breakdown."
My life was in total turmoil and confusion.
I wrestled with the thought of seeing if an adoptive agency
was a good idea for my beloved pets.
It was one of the worse moments of my life.
I had come home, after hearing my Dad was ill again.
No one had let the dogs out, fed them, or given them fresh water,
as they had been told to do as chores, repeatedly.
I exploded, and said that was it, they were leaving us.
My older son helped as we loaded them into the car,
and drove them to a "well respected" adoption agency.
I began sobbing about 1/2 mile down the road.
The very next day, not 15 hours later,
I called the agency telling them we wanted the dogs back.
"Impossible, and paperwork irreversible," was their reply.
My husband called. The attorney called.
A friend tried to adopt them. Even the mayor called them.
We hired an attorney, but were told
there are no laws governing contracts on animals.
You can buy a subscription, a car, or even a washer,
and change your mind in 3 business days.
But not on an animal, of any kind.
The judge reprimanded the adoptive agency,
but the dogs were in new homes now.
And even though I knew they were in good homes,
I still cried every night for almost two months.
Then along came one of the happier moments
between my daughter and I.
We were united in a goal to find new puppies.
We had a gigantic Garage Sale, and even her friends helped.
Then one Sunday, we left for Iowa to pick out a new puppy.
Storms were expected, and we had talked to the breeder earlier.
When we finally got there, no one was around,
but we scoped the place out, and did not like what we saw.
It was a dirty place, in the country, and in a cove of trees,
were several full grown goldens fenced in.
They did not look abused, but the place gave us a bad feeling.
So on to "Plan B" , we said, and got out the Sunday paper.
We called one of the more expensive breeders.
They were at the top of the state in Rockford.
At least a 3 hour drive, and the pups were not ready.
But we definitely could pick one out.
So, off we went chatting away in the car, to places unknown,
through a horrible rainstorm to find a new family member.
We got there, and were so relieved to see a puppy pen
filled with 8 of the most adorable creatures on earth.
One puppy came instantly to each of us, and we giggled.
"Dad will freak out if we get two," Lexi said.
"I guess I'll have to use my powers of persuasion,
and also tell him we'll have another garage sale!"
(Which we did, AFTER we brought home 2 instead of 1...!)
We both laughed, and the breeder took our deposit.
Driving home the "Puppy smell" lingered on our clothing.
Four weeks later, we took the 3 hour drive to pick up our pups.
Before we took the long drive home,
I took a picture of her glowing, as she held a pup in each arm,
and I keep it in my favorite pictures album.
The truck had that wonderful "Puppy Smell" in it,
I flip though those pictures whenever I'm feeling a little low.
Mocha and Muffin, named after my favorite breakfast,
are still by my side today, and every night they are close by.
They make my life whole, and are never failing
when it comes to greeting me when I walk in the door.
It is such a joy to watch them chase squirrels up the oak tree,
or noses under the shed, tails wagging, waiting for a chipmunk to appear.
The birds ignore them now, and we fenced in "their" part of the yard,
ever since since the coyotes started appearing.
If you are ever faced with a feeling of being over whelmed,
with your life, your health, or your children,
just go somewhere quiet and peaceful.
Don't blame the kids, or the pets, or even yourself.
If you can't gather your thoughts together, ask for help.
Don't make the same mistake that I did.
The pain of losing Cookie and Coco is still with me.
I know it will last a lifetime.
