Dog Love
"A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water logged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?" -Quote from Marley and Me
Tonight, I sit in my lonely office at work and find myself tearing up because I miss my childhood dog. Earlier this evening I went to Marley and Me with Maggie. The film evokes such strong emotions for any dog lover, and I could not help but to think about my dear Emily. I had always wanted a dog; a playful companion who would fetch and swim in the lake with me. However, Emily never once fetched and she hated the water, and even though she never did the things I always dreamed my dog would do, that half dalmation/half border collie mutt loved like none other.
When I was ten years old, my parents left for Sioux Falls one Summer evening and left my sister and I with our grandparents. When my parents returned, a very happy black and white dog had its head sticking out of the van door; MaryChar and I leaped with excitement. My parent's had picked up "Miss Emily," as she was called at the humane society in Sioux Falls. Emily just had 15 puppies, and I can remember noticing she had hideous utters like a cow, but Mom promised those would go away soon.
Those first few days were exciting, but I soon realized that this new dog of mine was not what I was expecting. I had always dreamed of playing fetch with my very own dog, but after several throws of sticks and balls and subsequent blank stares from Emily, it became clear that I would be the only one retrieving! I was disappointed, this stupid dog wouldn't do the one thing I wanted and hoped we could do together.
Although she refused to fetch and swim, Emily did things I never expected. Being half-dalmation, she was a high energy dog, and walking her never calmed her to tolerable levels. One evening, my mom decided to let her run beside the van as we drove on the back roads out of town. My mom, sister, and I all rode together in the van, and MC and I cheered and encouraged Emily as she ran beside us. Emily followed along the van for several miles, sprinting the entire way. She loved running with us and after that day the word "run" was used with caution in our house.
Before long I was the one driving and MC and mom were yelling, "Come on Emily" out the windows. My teenage years, and all the angst of it had arrived. It wasn't long before I experienced my first broken heart. I remember feeling that powerful aching in my chest when Emily snuggled her nose under my chin and let me wrap my arms around her and sob. As a teen, it was hard to express my feelings because I was concerned with what others thought of me. I could never have confided in my friends or even my parents with the same pure emotion as I did with Emily. That dog was a steady rock during the lowest moments of heartache, confusion, and disappointment. She didn't think I was silly or over-reacting; she knew I was upset and consoled as best she could. Sometimes the best meant words, wisdom, or advice won't do. Sometimes, you just need a hug.
When I left for college Emily's loyalty remained; my parents told me that she would sniff and look in my room trying to figure out where I was. During college, she started getting gray hairs and lost her spryness. She was unable to run along side the van anymore and her hips were becoming arthritic. After college, her health worsened. It was hard to see her in pain and not be able to do the things she once enjoyed. Last fall, when I was home from Washington, we decided as a family that it was the time to put our beloved Emily to sleep. We all took her to the vet together and said our goodbyes. It was one of the few times I've seen my father cry, and the memory brings tears to my eyes as I type.
Although Emily refused to fetch and swim like I had expected, she surpassed all I ever imagined a dog would be like. I think this can be true of many situations in life. Girlfriends, kissing, best friends, playing Buck football, and college life were all figments of my imagination before they became reality. Maybe I am lucky, naive, or perhaps need to dream bigger, but those dreams never exceeded the reality. I have dreams of how things might be; things like marriage, a career, children, new friendships, and an eternal life with Christ. I hope the fulfillment of these dreams exceed my expectations; just like that silly mutt who loved me did.
Tonight, I sit in my lonely office at work and find myself tearing up because I miss my childhood dog. Earlier this evening I went to Marley and Me with Maggie. The film evokes such strong emotions for any dog lover, and I could not help but to think about my dear Emily. I had always wanted a dog; a playful companion who would fetch and swim in the lake with me. However, Emily never once fetched and she hated the water, and even though she never did the things I always dreamed my dog would do, that half dalmation/half border collie mutt loved like none other.
When I was ten years old, my parents left for Sioux Falls one Summer evening and left my sister and I with our grandparents. When my parents returned, a very happy black and white dog had its head sticking out of the van door; MaryChar and I leaped with excitement. My parent's had picked up "Miss Emily," as she was called at the humane society in Sioux Falls. Emily just had 15 puppies, and I can remember noticing she had hideous utters like a cow, but Mom promised those would go away soon.
Those first few days were exciting, but I soon realized that this new dog of mine was not what I was expecting. I had always dreamed of playing fetch with my very own dog, but after several throws of sticks and balls and subsequent blank stares from Emily, it became clear that I would be the only one retrieving! I was disappointed, this stupid dog wouldn't do the one thing I wanted and hoped we could do together.
Although she refused to fetch and swim, Emily did things I never expected. Being half-dalmation, she was a high energy dog, and walking her never calmed her to tolerable levels. One evening, my mom decided to let her run beside the van as we drove on the back roads out of town. My mom, sister, and I all rode together in the van, and MC and I cheered and encouraged Emily as she ran beside us. Emily followed along the van for several miles, sprinting the entire way. She loved running with us and after that day the word "run" was used with caution in our house.
Before long I was the one driving and MC and mom were yelling, "Come on Emily" out the windows. My teenage years, and all the angst of it had arrived. It wasn't long before I experienced my first broken heart. I remember feeling that powerful aching in my chest when Emily snuggled her nose under my chin and let me wrap my arms around her and sob. As a teen, it was hard to express my feelings because I was concerned with what others thought of me. I could never have confided in my friends or even my parents with the same pure emotion as I did with Emily. That dog was a steady rock during the lowest moments of heartache, confusion, and disappointment. She didn't think I was silly or over-reacting; she knew I was upset and consoled as best she could. Sometimes the best meant words, wisdom, or advice won't do. Sometimes, you just need a hug.
When I left for college Emily's loyalty remained; my parents told me that she would sniff and look in my room trying to figure out where I was. During college, she started getting gray hairs and lost her spryness. She was unable to run along side the van anymore and her hips were becoming arthritic. After college, her health worsened. It was hard to see her in pain and not be able to do the things she once enjoyed. Last fall, when I was home from Washington, we decided as a family that it was the time to put our beloved Emily to sleep. We all took her to the vet together and said our goodbyes. It was one of the few times I've seen my father cry, and the memory brings tears to my eyes as I type.
Although Emily refused to fetch and swim like I had expected, she surpassed all I ever imagined a dog would be like. I think this can be true of many situations in life. Girlfriends, kissing, best friends, playing Buck football, and college life were all figments of my imagination before they became reality. Maybe I am lucky, naive, or perhaps need to dream bigger, but those dreams never exceeded the reality. I have dreams of how things might be; things like marriage, a career, children, new friendships, and an eternal life with Christ. I hope the fulfillment of these dreams exceed my expectations; just like that silly mutt who loved me did.
posted by Trey at
1:57 AM
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