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Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Woman's Best Friend


I come from a long line of people who forget about common sense when confronted with a wet nose and wagging tail. My grandmother shared breakfast daily with her fox terrier, Snooky. Every morning MeMa dunked her donut in coffee, offered Snooky a bite, and then took a bite herself. Dunk, bite, bite, until the donut was gone.

My husband, Jeff, who had the pleasure of meeting both MeMa and Snooky, should have realized that I couldn’t remain dogless for long after our cocker spaniel died. Instead, he was surprised and furious when I committed the ultimate crime: bringing home an unauthorized puppy.

I can’t really blame him for not understanding. The problem stems from a fundamental difference between Jeff’s relatives and mine. My side of the family believes animals belong seated at the dinner table. Jeff’s family believes animals should be presented on a plate, medium rare with gravy on the side.

Our conflict began when I secretly began cruising the Frederick Humane Society the way some people cruise singles bars.

Like most women, I didn’t cruise alone. My friend, Mary, who was looking for Mr. Goodcat, accompanied me. After perusing the kitties, we rounded the corner to the doggy department and there she was, sixteen pounds of scrawny black and tan coonhound pup. Our eyes met, and I knew she could see deep into my soul.

“Look at those enormous paws -- this dog will be huge!” Mary exclaimed. “And your husband will freak,” she reminded me. But it was too late.

For those unfamiliar with the breed, a black and tan coonhound is a large, energetic, floppy-eared dog used for hunting raccoons, deer and bear. Picture Mickey Mouse’s dog, Pluto, sporting a Doberman’s paint scheme. A sensible suburbanite would have left the building immediately, dog-free, but as I’ve mentioned, I am not a sensible person.

“Jeff will fall in love as soon as he sees her,” I assured myself as I completed the adoption papers. If Jeff needed additional convincing, I theorized that a little bonus time in the marital bed would cure him.

The reality was somewhat different. Enraged, Jeff refused to even look at Sunny. He saw through my feminine ploys and stoically slept on the couch. Luckily, we love each other quite a bit, and four years later, he has almost reached the point of forgiving me for my transgression.

Despite her father’s antagonism, Sunny has grown into a good-natured 75-pound dog who loves everyone. At our house, burglars and escaped convicts would be greeted with the same joyous celebration as the president of MilkBone International.

I’ll admit I didn’t like Sunny much when she deposited a steamy, fragrant load in the back seat of my Honda Civic, or after she rolled in a rotting rabbit carcass. But overall, I’m looking forward to growing old with both Sunny and Jeff. And I’d share a donut with either one of them.

This column was originally published in the Frederick Gazette. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Monday, December 26, 2005

a star is born


My best friend has produced a beautiful baby boy! I'm sure that I'm prejudiced, but he really is beautiful and absolutely perfect, despite what the doctors call "advanced maternal age." For those who can't interpret that, it's doctor-speak for "having a baby when you're so old, most of your friends are already thinking about having their tubes tied."

New Mom Betsy and Baby Ian are doing fine. I think Proud Papa Eric may pull through too! And soon Ian will be the owner of a very colorful, star-covered quilt (see photo from his mom's baby shower, above) that's about 500 times his size, I just need to put on the label and binding. I am really looking forward to being a crazy, doting honorary auntie!

Seeing my friends begin this mind-boggling journey into parenthood has made me think back to my own child's birth! My "baby," Caitlyn, is now 13 1/2, and just about as tall as I am, but when I look at her baby pictures, I can remember all the feelings of love and fear and joy and overwhelm-ed-ness that were coursing through my veins and dancing non-stop through my head! I think this will be the departure point for this month's Journal Quilt!

I've already begun by printing some photos on fabric. I printed out the delivery room family portrait from Caitlyn's and Ian's births, both in color and in sepia, and we'll see where that takes me!