[Lou]

I was thinking about the late “gentle giant” on my way in to work this morning and I am happy to say that I don’t cry when I think about him anymore. I can now remember things with a smile or a chuckle. He was something else.

Well anyway I was thinking about a freak accident the two of us had and was wondering if anyone else would like to tell us about one. I think it would be an interesting thread! Here is what happened:

When Ivan was still an adolescent (a huge adolescent) he was house trained almost instantly. One day as I opened the back door to let him out I reach down to pat his head as he walked by. At the same time he looked up at me and somehow my wedding rings got caught on one of his canines. It was a step down to the patio and he ended up literally pulling me out of the door and onto the cement by my rings! The fall dislodged my hand and since I was on the ground Ivan decided I was down there to play with him and started jumping all over me. Fortunately my husband heard me scream on my way down and rushed out to help me.

I came away from it with some badly bruised knees and elbows and wedding rings that were pulled into an oblong shape. These rings were my wedding band, engagement ring, and eternity ring all soldered together! I barely got them off my finger before it swelled up too much. The jeweler couldn't believe what happened – he said it looked like someone had run over them with a car!

Ivan was none the worse from the experience but we decided to teach him to sit and wait at the door until we gave him the go ahead. Wish we’d taught him that sooner!