* To prevent confusion, I wrote this post a couple of months ago. It’s been sitting in my “drafts” folder… waiting to be finished I guess. So, here it is. Enjoy.
Last night I went to my mom and dads… mostly to see them but to see the doggies too. Deano and Niles, they are quite the pair.
Deano is a prima donna if I ever met one. He’s around seven years old? I’m not sure but my parents don’t do much to dissuade his thinking that he is the king of the castle, everyone else is just allowed to live there and care for him. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, I don’t say it with judgement. I’m just trying to paint a picture.
Niles on the other hand… I think of as more of a court jester or a peasant. He was Natalie’s dog and like Nat, he’s a bit of a trouble maker… or is getting senile? I think they are close to the same age… anyway, Niles lost an eye a couple of years ago and his remaining one is failing. It’s a good thing the two dogs love each other because they need each other. While Deano gets a playmate, Niles relies on Deano to get around. Deano is Niles’ seeing eye dog. Other than needing his eye treatments, Niles is a pretty low needs dog. He’s content to be in the same room as people and not have to be the center of attention.
All of this info brings me to my point.
While at mom and dad’s last night, the two dogs sat outside the little gate of the dining room, whining. They aren’t allowed in the dining room because of all the accidents.
Speaking of accidents, I had to pee. I excused myself and when I came back, there was Deano, sitting on his two hind legs. Still whining. Tears in his eyes like “I stayed at your house, remember? Why won’t you hold me? I NEED ATTENTION!” So I scooped him up and held him for awhile. (I don’t do much to correct his thinking either, come to think of it…)
When I set him down, there was Niles. Looking up at me with his one good/mediocre eye. Not saying anything or whining or crying.
“Does Niles like to be held?” I asked
“He does, it’s just a little more awkward because he’s bigger than Deano.”
I grabbed Niles and hugged him to my chest. I held my breath as his kissed me all over, bathing me in his saliva. I kissed him back. His ears, the top of his head and I tried to imagine Natalie there with us.
It wasn’t long before Deano got jealous though and started to whimper.
“I held you first, it’s not your turn.”
He cocked his head to the side and barked.
Then mom came around.
I set Niles down and reached for Deano.
Would he let me pick him up? Of course not! Mom was here! Not only was mom better but he watched me to make sure I saw him rejecting me and illustrating I wasn’t the only one who wanted him.
To keep me in my place, I guess.
Well buddy, she was my mom first, so whatever…
What’s the point of all this? I don’t know. Does there have to be one? I guess I just found it highly amusing and wonder how in the world people can think animals are stupid.
Striving For Sanity 