Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart

I am an unabashed dog lover. Fat dogs, skinny dogs, dogs who climb on rocks. Tough dogs, sissy dogs, even dogs with....well maybe not chicken pox.

This affliction has been known to cause me to embrace strangers' dogs, rescue many strays, and adopt a few into my home. Another sense of loss due to my defective schnozz is the inability to smell a tiny puppy's breath and scent. A warm puppy's smell reminds me of fresh cooked corn tortillas. Don't ask why, I can't tell you. Or at least they used to when I had a working olefactory organ.

After the big D, I went through a sense of mourning for my pets. All three doggies stayed at the old house mostly because I was living in an apartment (fate worse than death) and they were used to their own home and yard. I completely understand when people write in pet visitation rights in the final decree.

I was determined not to get attached to any more four-legged soulmates. Kman has a little rat terrier that while cute and full of energy, is the most uncuddlesome creature I have encountered. Max became a denizen of the great outdoors when even the vet's skilled hands could not stop the nasty high-five of the back leg onto the furniture. He guards the backyard and makes sure every plant is watered at least twice daily.

Enter the Bandit. Like a thief in the night, he stole my heart when I wasn't looking. His little ferret-like face has an endearing underbite and has a contrasting mask across his eyes. Delicate little bones, and a pretty brindle color to his coat. A prancing gait that speaks volumes of his personality. At night, when sleepy, he rubs his little eyes with his paws and sometimes burrows his head into my lap. A couple of scratches, a turn around the bed and a flop up against me says he is ready for bedtime. We bought him a little red sweater with a black trimmed edge for the winter. Such a handsome man in his sweater, very campus jock-like, very collegiate.

Bandit is officially the possession of the eldest Emily's, a present from Mox, the boyfriend. Unintentionally, Kman and I became his real parents. At first, I kept him at arm's length. Wasn't going to get suckered in by his adorable little begging trick - rising up on his hind legs, and pawing the air with his two front legs held together in a cute stance that says "Please!" quite loudly. Wasn't going to chase him around the den and play squeeky with his toys. Oh nosiree, I had no intentions for falling in love. Too late. Errol Flynn of the pooch world has worked his magic with me.

Now he gets tucked in every night in his bed in the doggie carrying valise. Very roomy and big, with a fleeced padded bedding. ( He is yet to be tutored and is very much an apprentice to the Water boy, Max.) I give him kisses on his face, and hold him close to me, speaking in my best baby babble. "He's just widdle, just a widdle iddle boy". Oh yeah, the baby talk. Even Kman who raised several points against a house doggie has succumbed to this canine adoration. I find him curled on the couch with Bandit snug in the crook of his tucked knees, or lying upon his lap, a television companion.

Bandit ,the chihuahua, may be only 2 pounds of dog, but he rules this roost with the heart of a lion. Shhhh, he doesn't know his pedigree does not include the bloodline of Rin Tin Tin. We also told him his great great grandfathers were Old Yeller and Nanook of the North. But then again, I think I am a descendant of Charlemagne. I am, you know.

At Christmas, I would like to remember all the doggies of my past: Corky, the cockerspaniel who liked to hide in a car for a ride; Pud, the highwayman heinz 57; Chico, the terrier/chihuahua who proved uncatchable; Gypsy, the little black poodle; Sister, the loyal birddog who loved every roaming rogue in the neighborhood and perpetuated their bloodline; Tommy Ann, the funny little stray with baaaad breath; Bruno, the pyscho doberman; Cody, the English setter with a heart of gold; Kyzhur, the big-eyed cocker/poodle; Bud, the Whataburger rescued dog; Sadie, the smartest german shepard/rottie in the world and champion frizbee catcher; and Heidi, the long-haired chihuahua that was also called Kabba Kabba dog.

I loved them all.