Yesterday was Valentine's Day,
Day of hugs, love, and plenty of slobber Kisses!
All week, Lucy and I have been wearing our
Heart print Scout Scarves.
(She loves hers.....I feel a little less macho in Pink)
Humans on the street thought we were SO cute!
Yikes.
All the fuss was kind of fun,
(Who doesn't like heart shaped dog cookies??)
But it also got me thinking......
What is Love to ME?
Sure, I love my neighbors, my sister,
My family, my home.....
The deer I bark for, my favorite pee tree.
I love my couch, my bowl, my new Beef Hunk dinner loaf.
I loved Lamb Chop and a hundred other toys.
But who do I LOVE?
Who do I watch for end of day......?
Who do I follow in tireless circles.....?
Whose eyes do I yearn for.....?
Whose nose is my favorite lick spot?
Who's got my heart,
and I've got hers?
I'll tell you Who...........MOM!
In a Word,
That's what Love means to Me.
MICK'S TIP:
Who you Love is Voodoo Magic.
It just is.
Listen to George Thorogood.
(Minus the Cobra necktie)
Now, Who do YOU Love.....??
Celebrate them every day,
And let them know
with a Hearty Licking!
This week,
I dreamt I was in Paradise.
On a Winter's day,
Front door open
and Sun streaming in
Through security glass,
The entryway can reach
a very balmy 85 degrees.
Mid morning, after my workout
and local wildlife administration,
I so enjoy a little Sun Kissed snooze.
Aahhhhh......
Delightful to let your cares slip away
In a tropical heat wave!
Surf is pounding, parrots calling
Wind ruffles my bleached out whiskers.
I smell satay on a stick
And the Vendors are calling my name.....
Children are laughing, Perros are yipping,
Nothing to do but soak it all in.
Just another day on Paradise Beach.
Maybe it's time for a little chips and salsa.....
MMmmmmm.
ZZzzzzzzz.
MICK'S TIP:
Savor the moment Kids.....
Real life is back in a flash,
Your Sister chasing your tail
And UPS at the door.
Paradise can't last,
But your Dreams do.....
Ole!
Last week I realized
I was going to lose Lamb Chop.
After months of Westie love,
Her paws were ragged,
Her face chewed off and
Her stuffing trailed the house
like a bad hunter's camp.
She was my one and only Girl,
and while there were always
multiple toy friends scattered about,
She was the one who meant the most.
Wet from slobbery kissing,
She now lay pitifully in a pile on the floor.....
Yesterday, Mom stepped in.
"Health Hazard"......She said.
Huh?.....How could that be?
Lamb Chop is the kind of
Forever Friend
every Guy dreams of......
Long lashes, sweetest smile, soft and cuddly.
Plus a great personality and a big Heart to boot.
Sure, she didn't say much,
But what guy wants that?
Maybe I got too involved.
Maybe I loved her to death.
But, I wouldn't have it any other way.....
Thank you, LC, for the gift you were.
This morning I woke up, stretched, yawned
and realized Lamb Chop is gone.
Probably in a dust bin somewhere.
It's over.....it's really over.
Time for an Andrea Bocelli CD and
Lots of wound licking.
Parting is such Sweet, Sweet Sorrow.....
MICK'S TIP:
Best to have an extra Lamb Chop in the wings.
You never know when this one's bound for the trash.
(Hey Mom, when are we heading back to Wal-Mart?)
Snowflakes swirling over my head......
The softest cold under my feet.
Total quiet wraps Me and Mom.....
As we wander down the white out street.
She's in her world, I'm in mine......
Not a word do I hear her speak.
Still, I know her heart and she knows mine.....
Two separate paths destined to meet.
Perhaps we were one in a different life.
Perhaps we shared adventure big and small.
Perhaps there was love as there is today.....
Two Souls roaming Eternally.
I can't know what lies ahead.....
Being only a Dog after all.
But I trust her to lead me
to greater good.....
Where all is white,
and time stands still,
And gentle snow will forever fall.
MICK WAGGER
At the risk of seeming a full blown Geek,
I have to admit that nothing excites Me
Like a morning following our neighborhood Birds!
Just beyond reach,
Two feeders hang over key windows,
And we Kids patrol them like
Alcatraz prison guards.
With laser focus, Lucy and I stalk our
Feathered Friends.....
Robins, Sparrows, Magpies and Chickadees
Ours is a very diverse bunch!
Without a sound we watch,
'Til every perch is full with busy beaks.
Wings are beating, seed is falling,
A sacred bird communion!
And just when tension is highest
And we can stand no more.....
Barrk, Baarrk, BaRRK, BAAARRRK, BARK!
Off they scatter to the trees!!
Lucy and I puff up.....
Once again, we've protected Home and Hearth.
No time for self congratulation though.....
There's more to do.
NOW is prime time to administrate those cheeky Squirrels!
MICK'S TIP:
As You Watchdog, beware your own perch.
I've landed in a heap on the floor more than once.....
Sadly, Canines have no Wings.
Imagine the World if We DID!
I've had a little Sister for 2 years now, and God knows it hasn't been easy.....
When she arrived, scruffy, scared and dragging a tattered toy,
she wasn't the most lovable rescue pup on the Planet.
She demanded attention, snapped loudly, stole my food and toys,
Even drew BLOOD!
And It's common knowledge that I wasn't thrilled.....
Thanks MOM.
But, I was thinking today how much things have changed??
I can't say where or when exactly,
but somehow along the way I stopped Hating her.....
and started Loving Lucy.
Maybe it began with that first friendly tug of war.
Maybe she waited just a milli second longer to pirate my bowl.
Maybe she stole Lamb Chop, but shared her back a moment later.
Maybe, just maybe, her heart became a bit happier
as she learned to love our family way.....
Her Spirit felt lighter,she became a whole lot cuter,
and she finally gave us All a break!
One day, I realized I actually looked forward to her coming through the back door.
I teased her..... and she flirted back.
We could eat in the same room, without hiding our food.
And, believe it or not, I actually WANTED to share my pillow with that Girl!
Families come in all shapes, sizes and flavors.....
Lucy may be a quirky Sister,
But she's MY sister.
Life sure has a funny way of working out.
MICK'S TIP:
Faith, Hope and Love......
But the Greatest of These is Love.
Amen.
Here we are at the beginning of yet another Year,
and I know I'm getting Older (white chin hairs!)
Though not much Wiser it seems.
Chasing the same squirrels, scarfing the same kibble,
Barking up the same old tree.
And, it makes a Guy wonder, is that all there is?
Is that ALL there is??
If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep Dancing.....?
(Or, in my case, frolicking with Lamb Chop)
And yet, Life is too short not to EXPLORE!
Life is for finding the next Rabbit Den, sneaking Holiday Pumpkin Pie
and chasing the neighbors' cute little Pekingese ALL the way to the Reservoir!!
Yes, Mom will be disappointed in me..... but a Guy's got to LIVE!
2015..... I want to travel the world (or at least cross town),
Meet new friends and stay out late (even if it's back yard howling)
I want to see, taste and do things I've never done before.......
I want to slide into NEXT year with No Regrets!
Come on Kids.....Are you with me?!?
There's FUN to be had, even if I AM an Old Man!
The Moon is Full, the Call is Wild, and I have some Fox Holes to sniff!
MICK'S TIP:
As they say on my Block,
If you're not the lead dog, the scenery never changes.
No problem.....I'm Alpha all the way!
Look out World, Mick Wagger is WAY Out Front!!
