Opinion : Puppy Love

The term "puppy love" brings about the vision of young kids in love, usually for the first time, who see their lives together with that special someone as a "til death do us part" possibility.

I, on the other hand, have seen what TRUE puppy love is.

On Thanksgiving we took off for the day, chaining our usual inside dog, outside, since no one would be home to let her outside as needed.

The poor dear was outside for a whopping 9 hours and was convinced that we had left her for good, I'm sure.

We returned, unloaded the car, dodging a jumping, running in circles dog, who was so excited to see us that she just couldn't contain it.

We finally settled everything back into the kitchen, straightened up, stacked the fridge full of our leftovers, and started to relax in the livingroom.

As soon as I sat down in the recliner, the dog came running over and climbed onto my lap.

We do NOT have a tiny little lap dog. We have a black lab mix, so so she's a good sized dog.

First it started with her paws on my lap, and her soaking up all the sweet nothings that you say to a dog, then it went to her wanting to snuggle.

I now had 2 of her feet on my lap, one on the chair. Slowly the paws snuck up to my shoulders and the other back leg was also on the chair.

Pretty soon, I had a dog, on my lap, and the silly thing with both her front legs on each side of my neck, and now I was fighting off a long pink tongue headed in my direction.

I THINK she missed me.

Eventually, she had all of the hugs and kisses she needed, but still refused to get off my lap.

So she snuggled in, and then I realized why people who have an empty nest sometimes resort to puppy love.

Mindy Lu, as we call our dog, was snuggled comfortably on my lap, head on my chest, and contentedly sleeping away within an hour of our return.

Every once in a while, she'd open her eyes to make sure everything was still okay, and then give a huge sigh and go back to sleep.

Her warm body, all relaxed against me in the chair, reminded me again of the beauty of God's creation.

I'm not convinced that dogs go to heaven, but I sometimes think they have GOT to have a soul in them.

The trust they put into you as their "owner" is the same as a child.

They train usually easier than the kids, and don't forget when they've been told, "No!"

Neither do they forget who they can turn to when they are lonely and need some hugs.

Most days are spent at the computer, looking out the window, noise of kids in the background and the dog sitting in the chair next to me, waiting for me to get done working...as she is doing tonight.

The poor thing probably thinks that humans stay awake just about 24/7. If I'm up at 3 a.m. she's right there next to me...well, I should say, MOST nights she's there at 3 a.m. right next to me.

Usually the TV is on in the background, tuned into the World News.

Sometimes Mindy will get out of the chair stand next to my chair and give a huge loud yawn and look at like me as if to say, "Can't we shut everything off and go to bed yet????" Sometimes, I laugh and she convinces me that yes, it is time to wind things down and try once again to sleep.

Sometimes I ignore her, and she continues to yawn with her, "Arrgh arrr arr" a bit louder each time letting me know that she is really, REALLY tired of the noise and wants me to shut everything off so she can sleep.

If she is ignored long enough, she will head into our walk in closet to find the place farthest from the noise and light and hunker down until I finally crawl back into bed.

But always, she knows, that she has a place next to me where she can find an extra pat on the head, or a hug, and an occassional treat.

And always, I know, as soon as walking in the door, I will be met with an excited dog, jumping and running in circles until I can drop everything and give her the attention she needs.

Puppy love, it's alive and real at our house, and I'm glad to have it around!