Ed was a devoted friend. He loved hugs around his big hairy neck. He loved the snow. He loved to eat. (Isn't if funny, I love those things too!) He loved to be brushed and scratched on the behind. He was afraid of thunderstorms and tried to hide under things that were too small for his great big body. Just last week I heaved him up on my bed during the middle of the night so I could put my arm around him and assure him that the thunder was not going to hurt him. He stayed until it was all over and then jumped down to do his job of protecting the household. (Even though he was always a big chicken!) He loved children and especially liked them when they were eye level, or licking level to him. He loved to go for rides and was first to the door when asked if he wanted to go. When he was young he could do this amazing vertical leap over couches and chairs and he loved to play "footsie", putting his feet on top of yours and then you putting yours on top of his, and then his on top of yours at a frantic pace until he would get so excited he would take off and "do a lap" around the house. He probably was the most gentle dog I have ever owned (and I have owned a few). We had a Yorkshire Terrier at one time and that little stinker would grab onto the hair of Eddie's neck and just hang there growling and shaking his head. Ed would look at me with this pleading look as if to say "Can you get this off, please?" He usually didn't get into the trash, but sometimes he couldn't resist if it was something he thought would be good. The funny thing was that he didn't hide the fact that he was getting into the trash. He would pick up whatever treasure it was and carry it tentatively into the room where the family was doing what families do and look around like, "Is it OK if I have this?". I'll never forget him carrying in a great big watermelon rind. It looked like he was carrying a giant smile. It was almost as funny as the time he got the trash lid caught around his neck and he raced to the bathroom to hide. He was sheepishly looking at us like "I really don't know how this got caught on my neck.......really"
There are many who say "It's a dog for cryin out loud." I would venture to say that they have never had the distinct pleasure of owning and loving a dog. I know that there are real tragedies in the world. I know that there are vitally important things to do for the safety and well-being of mankind. I know there are things that are much more important than a dog. However, Ed loved me unconditionally; that meant a lot to me. He never expected more than a pat on the head and a bowl of food in the mornings. I hope I did the right thing for him. Eddie was faithful and true and lived to the measure of his creation.......I should be so lucky as to have someone say that about me at the end of my days.
I hope you are doing vertical leaps on the other side Ed.........I am going to miss you, buddy.
3 comments:
Eddie was great. I don't think I've ever seen a dog with such an expressive face. And I'll always remember coming home in the middle of the night in high school and seeing his head peek fearfully around the corner until he was sure it was me, then he would be so relieved that he would run to the door to greet me with his smile and his wagging tail.
I remember when we went looking for a dog at the pound and saw Eddie with his big feet, and he saw us, and we knew we had to bring him home. We had to wait and make sure no one claimed him because he had just gotten there, but we wanted to wait because we could tell by that face that he'd be a great dog. And then he wouldn't get into the car right away for some reason (we always theorized that someone dropped him off on the side of the road and left him) when we finally got to take him home. Of course, he came around and later loved the car as you mentioned.
It was hard to imagine him doing those jumps when he got so big, but I remember when he would sooner jump over something than walk around it. And if you startled him he'd jump straight up in the air. I could go on, but I'm rambling.
Yeah, Eddie was great. I remember when we had to wait for him to go from the "found" side of the pound to the "Adoption" side of the pound. They kept saying "You know, this is going to be a big dog!" and we kept saing " Yeah, we know, we want him!" He did smile didn't he? He was always glad to see any of us come home, and especially at night when he recognized that it was us and not the "boogeyman". Trixie is missing him. She was laying outside the downstairs bathroom looking out the window tonight. That is where he always laid. I still can't believe he is gone. It came on so suddenly. I can't stop getting all teary eyed. By the way, I am so happy to have my beautiful Luke here. He and Nathan made it easier for me yesterday.
I remember when we took him out from the pound to take him home, and he crashed his head right into the glass window next to the door. They were so afraid at the SPCA that we would change our minds and say that he was too big for us, and we just kept saying that once a dog is in our family, it stays in our family. The minute I saw him, I knew that he was the dog for us. We wanted him so bad, and went in first thing in the morning to make sure no one else could take him home. We'll miss you, Eddie.
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