Christine,
Yes, I'm a sucker for puppies, especially Yorkies. It's funny really. I'd never wanted one of those wimpy little rat dogs. I wanted a "real" dog. Something like a Lab or a Dalmation. My ex-wife's Grandparents were the only family she had and we lost them in '95. She'd lost her parents when she was much younger. She was dealing with a horrible bout of depression and had mentioned wanting one of those little fake dogs many times so, to help focus her mind on something else, I decided to suggest we get one. We got our Carmen a couple of weeks later. I was in love instantly. My ex loved her dearly and I know Carmen loved her too but she was my dog, no doubt. I couldn't go anywhere without her. I couldn't get near the garage door without her literally shaking with excitement at the thought of going on a ride. She knew when I got home from work and would be sitting on the back of my La-Z-Boy recliner by the front door waiting for me. As the door opened she'd take a leap of faith, knowing I'd catch her and it was play time for the next thirty minutes or so. I've been a Yorkie man ever since.
Sadly, Carmen found a lost pacifier from our little girl three years later and chewed the tip off. It lodged in her intestines and we didn't find out until way too late. We had to have her put to sleep. I held her in my arms the whole time and I'm not the least bit ashamed to say I cried like a baby and lost sleep for several weeks. That's closest I ever want to see what it would be like to lose one of my children. Luckily we'd bred her once and had kept one of her pups, Zach. He's almost twelve now and not doing well. He's the kids' dog and live with my ex and our kids. She has three other Yorkies now, two females and another male.
Needless to say, I've been "alone" for four years now whenever the kids aren't with me (about half the time) and I've really been yearning for another puppy of my own.
Luckily my ex and I have been able to put a lot of our differences behind us and I've been able to forgive and move on and we've gotten along really well the past couple of years, almost to a friendly point. Things must be going well if she wants to give me this beautiful (and expensive) gift. Is it guilt? Generosity? Who knows what her motivations are and really, I don't care. I don't want to belittle her gift by trying to figure out why. I just know it means a lot to me.
And, yes, in case you hadn't noticed, I am very excited to get my Jackson home.
- Byron |