Ten years ago to the day, a dog wandered up through the woods to take comfort in our car port, behind the gas grill. When my husband shooed him out, he hid under the low lying brush in the woods, just beyond our gate. Time and again my husband tried to shoo him off only to find him back on the carport in his spot behind the grill. He looked like such an old dog, covered with gray, that we thought he had come to seek shelter and die. "You can't take in every dog that wanders up, Barbara." words repeated frequently by my husband over the course of the next two days and then my husband went out of town... and I fed the dog. Well, as you can guess, that was it. The beginning of our life with Murphy.
We quickly discovered that something was wrong with Murphy. He had a pronounced limp and a wound on his hip that did not look good. We wrapped him up and took him to our vet. Poor Murphy was in foul shape. He had a pin in his hip that was working its way out and was causing pain and infection. Surgery was the only option to remove the pin and make him better. Without hesitation, we both said yes and left Murphy in the able hands of our vet. When we went back the next day to retrieve him, I told our vet that we had been scouring the neighborhood, looking for Murphy's owners, Surely they were worried sick. No one knew of a missing dog with a broken hip. My vet took me aside and said, "I wouldn't look too hard, Barbara. This is a really sweet dog and you could give him a really good home." Not only that, he told us that Murphy was not old, he had just been through a lot in his two years; broken jaw, missing teeth and a broken hip that would leave him with a permanent limp and limited use of his left back leg,and partial blindness in his right eye that would get worse over time. How could I say no to that? Home we came and Murphy took up residence. We already had Molly at the time and she was none to pleased with this new addition but over time, before her death, they settled into life together.
At first Murphy was an outside, country dog. He ran through the woods and pastures to his hearts content. Mostly he stayed close to home on the driveway, playing with toys and lying in the sun. My husband built a beautiful dog house in the garage for him with comfy pillows. However, being who I am, I started to let Murphy in the house night after night, not wanting him to be too cold or too hot. Well, you can also guess the rest of this part of the story.
Murphy lead a charmed life while part of the Smith household. As new dogs took up residence, Murphy welcomed them into the fold graciously. They in turn, recognized him as Top Dog, and sought his approval. He was rather blase about all of their attentions, preferring to watch from a comfortable spot while they played and rough-housed.
There was nothing Murphy enjoyed more than a good swim in the lake. He was as graceful in the water as he was gimpy on land. Don't get me wrong, he could run faster than any of them on his three legs but in the water he was true grace and seemed totally at home. When coyotes arrived in the woods, we had to stop those free days to the lake and I felt sorry the most for Murphy. Better to be safe....
There is no way that I can record all the stories and all the loving days we spent with Murphy. He was just one heck of a dog...and we will miss him.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Play Dates
Last weekend, JR had a playdate. Unlike the playdates my children enjoyed, JR's was a playdate with adults. Lizzie, our great friend Kat and I took JR for a picnic at a park with apparatus just for little people. We had a picnic, played in the park and back at Kat's. It was a glorious day. It made me start thinking about when Matt and Lizzie were little......
I was so blessed when my children were little to be able to be at home with them. Despite the disastrous effects to the family financial picture, it was worth every moment and penny, literally. Even though I loved every minute at home, I still needed to have some adult time and friends of my own. I was incredibly lucky to meet a group of women who had children the same age as Matt. At that time, all of us had only one child and we were all home with our children. We took turns hosting playdates where the kids played and the moms watched and talked. I am pretty sure they started when the kids were all about 7-8 months old so maybe the word playing is a bit of a stretch for a while at least.
I don't think I realized at the time, the impact that group of women would have on my life, or that the memories made there would be some of my sweetest. Because I had no family near, those women became my family. We took turns babysitting, swapping sickness, and caring for one another through the years as our children grew. Eventually we formed a bowling team and joined a league with other young mothers (this was the midwest, you know...). That once a week outing, with the children in the nursery, were the highlights of the week. Then, as with happens with close friends, we all got pregnant with our seconds at the same time. Everyone delivered within about six weeks of each other. That made bowling interesting to say the least! Nothing like going for your approach only to be stopped in your tracks with an aggressive baby kick. As each of the seconds made it to the six week mark, back to the lanes we went, infant seats lined up with our shoes.
Of the original playdate group, my closest friend was Pat. Ryan and Matt played for hours while we quizzed each other with Trivial Pursuit cards. While pregnant with Adam and Lizzie, we tried every recipe for Cole slaw we could find (a mutual craving) and painted each others toe nails to the refrain of "Mattie, are you?" as the boys played hide and seek. There was one time when Matt chased Ryan with a butter knife but that is a whole other story. Through Pat, I met Barbie, a sorority sister of Pat's. The three of us formed a tight bond through playdates with the boys and lunches where we drank coffee and Crystal Light with great abandon. When it would be mine turn to host, I remember scouring my cookbooks for something easy and great to make for my friends and our kids. As the boys grew, so did the fun they had together, especially outside in nice weather where they could holler and run all they wanted. All the boys accepted Lizzie into the group, even as they looked at her somewhat confused as she was always wearing a dress and party shoes (her choice always) while she ran and hollered with the best of them.
My grandchildren and their parents will have different memories. Their lives are different from mine was when they were little.....not better or worse, just different. What I do wish for them is to grow up with a little group of friends that they will remember when they are old. And for their parents, my precious children, I wish they will find friends like Pat and Barbie who will impact their lives in a profound way and whose friendship is cherished even though we are far apart.
I was so blessed when my children were little to be able to be at home with them. Despite the disastrous effects to the family financial picture, it was worth every moment and penny, literally. Even though I loved every minute at home, I still needed to have some adult time and friends of my own. I was incredibly lucky to meet a group of women who had children the same age as Matt. At that time, all of us had only one child and we were all home with our children. We took turns hosting playdates where the kids played and the moms watched and talked. I am pretty sure they started when the kids were all about 7-8 months old so maybe the word playing is a bit of a stretch for a while at least.
I don't think I realized at the time, the impact that group of women would have on my life, or that the memories made there would be some of my sweetest. Because I had no family near, those women became my family. We took turns babysitting, swapping sickness, and caring for one another through the years as our children grew. Eventually we formed a bowling team and joined a league with other young mothers (this was the midwest, you know...). That once a week outing, with the children in the nursery, were the highlights of the week. Then, as with happens with close friends, we all got pregnant with our seconds at the same time. Everyone delivered within about six weeks of each other. That made bowling interesting to say the least! Nothing like going for your approach only to be stopped in your tracks with an aggressive baby kick. As each of the seconds made it to the six week mark, back to the lanes we went, infant seats lined up with our shoes.
Of the original playdate group, my closest friend was Pat. Ryan and Matt played for hours while we quizzed each other with Trivial Pursuit cards. While pregnant with Adam and Lizzie, we tried every recipe for Cole slaw we could find (a mutual craving) and painted each others toe nails to the refrain of "Mattie, are you?" as the boys played hide and seek. There was one time when Matt chased Ryan with a butter knife but that is a whole other story. Through Pat, I met Barbie, a sorority sister of Pat's. The three of us formed a tight bond through playdates with the boys and lunches where we drank coffee and Crystal Light with great abandon. When it would be mine turn to host, I remember scouring my cookbooks for something easy and great to make for my friends and our kids. As the boys grew, so did the fun they had together, especially outside in nice weather where they could holler and run all they wanted. All the boys accepted Lizzie into the group, even as they looked at her somewhat confused as she was always wearing a dress and party shoes (her choice always) while she ran and hollered with the best of them.
My grandchildren and their parents will have different memories. Their lives are different from mine was when they were little.....not better or worse, just different. What I do wish for them is to grow up with a little group of friends that they will remember when they are old. And for their parents, my precious children, I wish they will find friends like Pat and Barbie who will impact their lives in a profound way and whose friendship is cherished even though we are far apart.
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