Sometime the greatest lessons we learn in life come from the oddest of catalysts. Take for instance, a basset hound dog!
In my lifetime, I have been blessed to be the owner of three basset hounds. My first basset was an AKC Registered full blood named "Sir Nicholas of Apple Hills". I called him "Nicky". I loved that crazy old dog. Mom bought him on a whim while we were out at the mall. I thought he was the cutest puppy that ever lived. Oh, and their barks... there's nothing like those deep, baying howls of a hound!
Even as puppies, they have the same timbre in their voices.
I had always loved bassets and even things associated with bassets, such as Hush Puppy shoes. I used to put T-Shirts on that dog (just for fun) and feed him his canned dog food with a fork (I know- I was a nutty kid). I would sit on the steps to the laundry room and pet him for long periods of time. He was so big that I would sit on the step below his so that half of his body could be held up by the step. He was a good friend to me, but as far as pets go... I think my parents realized pretty quickly how stubborn bassets can be. Unfortunately, he went out to go to the bathroom during the winter and somehow wandered out front toward the street. It was dark and there was so much snow piled up that the driver didn't even see him when he got hit - nor did he stop once he hit him. He died instantly. A neighbor found him lying in the snow by the street and came and told my parents. I mourned over that dog. I had learned to love Nicky and now I was learning what it was like to lose someone you love.
When Pete and I were married and ready to get a pet, there was no question... I wanted a basset. Pete located some pups in a nearby town and he went in and picked one out. This time, we picked a female. I thought that perhaps a female would be a little better tempered than a male. She sat on my lap all the way home. Those ears... those huge paws. What a cutie. We named her Winnifred Mae (Winnie Mae) after one of our favorite music teachers in college and "Mae" after our Grandma. Unfortunately, we learned (now as the "parents" of the house) why bassets are considered "stubborn". That dog had a hard time potty training. In fact, up until the day she died... I think she never quit having her occasional moments!
Along the way, we adopted another male, Beau. His family used him as a breeding dog and then were finished with him. He was AKC Registered as well. He looked dirty and worn out from being housed outside. We took him home, cleaned him up, and kept him inside. He was a very gentle dog - but very huge. What I didn't like was the slobber strings that flew when he would shake his head. G-R-O-S-S! He was older than Winnie when we got him. He was with us for several months in Northern Missouri and moved to Nashville with us. Unfortunately, he was only with us a year or so in Nashville when he swallowed a pork chop right off of my mother-in-laws dinner plate. He couldn't pass the bone, so we had to make the difficult decision to put him down. Poor fella. With adding children to the house, however, it was probably good in the long run that we had fewer animals in the house. I know I couldn't have kept up with him and the babies at the same time!
When we moved back to Kansas City, Winnie was there with us again. That made three moves for her. Thinking about those early years always brings up thoughts of her. In fact, we could barely take a picture without her walking into the frame. What a camera hog! I remember how she used to run through the house and the kids would chase her. She was quite the dog and we loved her (well, I did at least... I think toward the end Peter didn't like her so much; sick of the peeing in the house and how grumpy she got in her old age).
Yesterday at lunch, my husband found a stray basset hound in the neighborhood and brought her home in at attempt to keep her from getting hit. She had her tags on, so locating the owner was not difficult. The owner couldn't come to retrieve the dog until nearly 6pm - after work. So, all afternoon I was "blessed" to dog sit. At first I thought, "Is Peter out of his cotton pickin' mind? Here he finds this dog and then I have to watch it all afternoon!" Mind you, I wasn't having a very good day either. The first day back to school after break, getting grades and DVD's together... those are enough to stress a person to the max. I had tons of work to do... and now a dog to care for.
As the day progressed, however, I began to have flashbacks of events and times long forgotten. Seeing the dog (her name was Roxie) interact with Shadrach reminded me of when Titus was a little boy playing with Winnie. It's only been 10 years ago since Titus was that little. But, children grow up in ten years! Zeke also took to Roxie and they played all afternoon. I could recall when all the three oldest kids were three and under when we moved here. As I went into my bedroom and found Roxie sprawled out on my bed (how she managed to get up there I don't know), I fondly remembered how Winnie would lay just like that - feet stretched out back and like she owned the bed. Then Roxie rolled over and wallered around on her back for several seconds... just like Winnie would. What a riot. Then I noticed the shedding hair on my bed. Ah, it was all clearly coming back to me now. The "smell" that bassets have, the shedding.
Later as I picked up clothes and shoes the kids left around, I was also reminded how Winnie used to chew up my shoes. She used to take other things out in the back yard when we lived in Northern Missouri. Our older neighbor would get a kick out of what she would bring out. Several unmentionables (such as underwear, hose, etc) that would embarrass me to no end!
The trip down memory lane made me realize that we need to cherish what we have right now because it won't stay the same. It also showed me that I've grown too. I still love the breed, but I don't think I would ever have one again. So when the owner came by and said we were welcome to keep her, I told her that I'd already had three and "no" I would not like another. I understood her feelings, but I have already been down that road and don't wish to return. I quickly told her the stories that I just shared with you and she said, "Perhaps I will make pork chops tonight." I thanked her for allowing me to have a trip down memory lane and how Roxie helped me remember when my kids were younger and what life was like back then. She walked down our front steps with Roxie on the leash and said, "Goodbye. I'll be letting her out again!"
I think my doggy sitting experience was quite a blessing in disguise in many ways. I needed that yesterday, and I think God knew it. With one long eared, long bodied, furry pawed afternoon, I had recalled my childhood, early married years, young parenthood, and saw where we are today. Yes, sometimes it takes something like a beloved basset to show you how far you've come and remind us that once in awhile we need to stop and smell the roses!
