Ode To Puppy
Our son was out of town for a couple of weeks and his dog stayed with us. We’ve always had a dog, often multiple dogs at one time, for all of our fifty-plus years of married life. I’m accustomed to dogs and their behavior but this little guy gets the prize. The blue ribbon for unbridled joy at anything and everything. “You’re going to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer? So exciting! Can I watch?” Or “You’re going to put something in the compost bin? Fantastic! I can’t believe my good fortune to be able to see that!” We’ve had dogs who follow me everywhere, even into the bathroom. But this little dude is different. He finds anything and everything out of control thrilling. Jumps up in the air with excitement at watching the most mundane things. And he doesn’t really understand how to chase a squirrel. He literally bounces across the yard like a rabbit and when he gets nowhere near the squirrel, that delights him too. Certain breeds of dogs are known for friendliness but Puppy leaps in the air for every single every person he meets. That’s his new best friend. I have never experienced a dog quite like he is. When our son got him, Puppy was indeed a small puppy. The breeder had named him Charlie. That’s our son’s name and he meant to keep it because he thought it would be hilarious to say, “Hi, I’m Charlie and this is my dog, Charlie”. But it didn’t stick. I called him Junior for a while but that didn’t last either. Over time he became known simply as “Puppy” and that’s what he responds to. So be it. I think we should all be as joyful as Puppy is.
Actual photo of Puppy courtesy of me, Mary Kunkel
