In 1983 my oldest son was four years old and wanted a dog in the worst way. Well maybe it wasn't so much him as it was his parents who decided that a dog was needed for the family to be complete. Of course every little boy wants a dog, and once the possibility was being discussed he was all for it.
It's a big decision, acquiring a pet of any kind, but especially a dog. They have a way of entwining themselves into your lives and truly do become a part of the family. And, so it was with Max. After a fair amount of research and perusing the classifieds, we piled into the car and went in search of puppies. All puppies are cute, so you might as well plan on bringing one home if you reach the "looking" stage, and these little Basset Hounds were irresistible. It didn't take long for boy and dog to find each other and the deal was done.
We had Max for 10 years before he succumbed to old age and disease. By then, we had two sons who had come to love that dog, and it was a tough decision as to whether we would try to replace him with another. We had recently moved and the boys were facing a new school, new friends, and all that goes with a relocation. But, soon it was evident something was missing, and we were on the hunt again.
This time, we went to look at a Labrador Retriever, and came home with two. The last two of the litter, and I'm not sure who was happier, the boys or the pups. We were living in the country, and there's nothing quite like seeing boys and dogs running across the pasture, exploring the woods, or just sitting on top of the hay bales in the sunshine. They were inseparable, and those were very good years.
Both of those dogs are gone now. Old age took its toll, and they died within a year of each other a few years ago. They were good dogs and we miss them. The boys are gone now as well, all grown up and with families of their own. Our home has become a quiet place.....a place of old folks, set in their ways, and without the hustle and bustle of a household filled with pets and boys. Too quiet......
Yesterday, I made an "executive decision", and came home with a new addition. Nothing like a new puppy to liven things up, right? I'm just hoping that my wife sees it that way when she returns from Kansas City......I'm sure she will......right??? Once again proving, what do I know?
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