After the passing of our family’s long-time friend, our beagle Jenny, a couple weeks back, we felt a large black hole looming around the house. She was the fourth member of the family, and her death was really felt deeply. Especially now that’s it’s spring ’round these parts in Western Pennsylvania – she loved to be outside, and would be with me while I mowed the grass, worked in the garden – basically anything outside. Everything that I’ve done outside over the past couple weeks has been lonely as hell without her. When I mow the lawn, I keep looking around for her by instinct, but of course she’s not there anymore.
On Monday afternoon, the better half and I went out to lunch in a neighboring town, and afterwards she led me in a subtle way toward a pet store at the mall there. We looked over the dogs they had there – and we both couldn’t help noticing a cute little 2-month old Dachshund. He had beautiful coloring and other than his nervousness, a terrific personality.
I urged my wife Karen to have him taken out of the pen and hold him a while. Well, I’m sure you know the rest of the story.
Needless to say, after a half hour, one final shot, and about $700 later (thanks for being there, Mr. MasterCard) we went home with him in our laps. “So, what’s his name?” I asked Karen. Without hesitation she said “Buddy!”
Our daughter, who was very close to our beagle, was due home from school within an hour of our arrival home. Karen called her on her cell and told her to come straight home, since there was someone at the house who wanted to see her. When Ashley walked in the house, Buddy was waiting for her on the floor of our living room. Ashley was sold right then and there – and as it turned out, Buddy was the dog she had looked at and wanted a few days prior while at that pet store. We had no idea, because she hadn’t told us about it.
Amazing how things work out. Welcome to the family, buddy, and once you get used to the loud sound of my riding mower, that weekly chore won’t be lonely anymore.
