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!!
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Last week, Mom leashed me up,
loaded me in the car,
and trucked me off in a hurry.....
Lucy was NOT
along for the ride.....YEAH!
Heading for the wild west foothills,
my heart was feeling the thrill
of the Open Road.
Window down, Wind in my face,
Adventures awaiting.....
When, SUDDENLY,
Mom made a different right turn
and I knew Play
was no longer in my future.
She took the turn that meant only one thing.....
THE VET!
OK, I'm a big boy.
I have broad Westie shoulders and can take this in stride.
Easy now.....Breath deep.....No reason to Panic.....
They are nice folks there, and I always get a treat.
Which is NOT quite as great to look forward to as
Gopher chasing in the field,
but it's a consolation prize of sorts.
Maybe I'll get two?
SO, in we go, and we register and they weigh me
and I was down about 3 oz.
(which is a tribute to Mom starving me at every meal)
and KJ said WHAT a good boy I was for staying so slim.
Well, I'm feeling better after that!
Then, we go into the examining room......
Where we wait a LONG time.
I pace and pant and jump on Mom
and basically revert to my bad Puppy habits.
(I'm pretty nervous.....Don't tell my Trainer)
Finally, my favorite Doctor comes in with his Nurse,
and they talk all sweet and give me the treats (Yup, two!)
and I get reviewed from stem to stern......
Eyes, check.
Ears, check.
Body, check.
Butt.....Now, wait a minute!.....A Guy's got his dignity!!!
And, after some poking and prodding, All seems fine.....
Now, for the SHOTS.....OMG..... I HATE this part!
I try to hide.
Suddenly, I see more treats coming my way.....YUUUUMMMM.
Thanks Nurse Brandy.....Huh?.....All Done!?..... OK.....Not so Bad.
We head straight home, and Mom leaves me for a neat little nap on the couch.
She drives away to run errands, and I drift off.
An hour later, she's home and I jump up to see her.......
WHOOOOOOOOO.....Do I feel Whoosey!
Yikes!!.....My eyes won't focus and I can't feel my tongue.
Every part of my body aches, but especially the scruff of my neck.
I have a headache like Woody Woodpecker is pounding to China above my brow.
MOM......Help!
Something Is Not Right!!!
I'm dazed and drifting, but can hear her on the phone.....
She's talking to the Nurse.
OK, she says, OK.
Next thing I know, she's forcing a little clear pill down my throat and I hear......
BAD REACTION
Oh No.....Was I a bad boy, and this is my PUNISHMENT??
Double Yikes.....I would have turned on more charm, had I known?
I haven't felt this bad since I sucked down the green Fox poo......
Now, THAT was a bad day!
But, Mom scoops me up and hugs me
and says I'm a Good Boy..... not to worry.....
and I fall asleep in her arms.
When I wake up later, it's dinnertime,
Yaaawwwnnn, and I feel Muuuuccchhh better.
Whew!.....That was a close one!!!
Good thing I'm a big, strong Westie at the Top of my Game.
Even so.....
Hopefully, we won't be making that tricky right turn again anytime soon!
MICK'S TIP:
When You're at the Vet, keep your eye on the Needles.
Don't be a sucker for the treats.....
The Sticker Shock is NOT worth it!
My Little Sister Lucy
is a passionate pooch,
and She takes her feelings
VERY seriously......
Her every emotion is nuclear,
and you could say she wears
her heart on her sleeve.....
(If she had one...sleeve I mean)
From the moment She first arrived,
She made her opinions known,
and it didn't matter a bit
if they differed from mine.....
My days as Alpha Pup
had come to an end!
If She wanted attention.....
She spoke UP.....AAARRFFFF!
When She wanted fed.....
She hunkered down with that serious stare
and a low no nonsense growl.
Time for a block walk?.....
Mom's shins were scratched and nipped,
until the leashes finally came out.
When She envied my favorite toy
Lamb Chop.....Whoooshh.....
Suddenly LC was in HER mouth!
Primo spot on the bed.....Yup, you guessed it.....HERS!!!
There's no reasoning with Lucy.....It's Her way, or the Highway.
And, if I want something, She's bound and determined to want it MORE.
That's my new reality.
It's hard for me to understand sometimes,
But I have to admire her fanatical focus.....
The Girl knows what She wants and She goes after it!
Prima.....Diva.....Goddess.....Witch?
YOU decide.
But, you've got to hand it to her.....
She's pretty hard to IGNORE !
MICK'S TIP:
Don't get too attached to that comfy spot on the sofa,
Or your snuggly Zebra toy.
And stay out of her way when the Moon is Full.......
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So.....You won't believe what happened a couple weeks ago!
Mom put me on the leash tie out for my afternoon relief.....
and somehow forgot me?
It had been a lovely day.....Typical Colorado blue skies and light wind.
VERY comfy temps for loafing around on the pink patio cement.
But that afternoon,
the weather got really weird.
Suddenly, the wind started up
and the clouds began boiling.
There was a spit of rain, and then the strangest thing.....
HUGE ice chunks began to fall from the sky!
Hundreds of them,
like a horde of angry wasps!!
In seconds, the patio was morphed from warm and comfy to paw deep in ice cubes.
I took a beating on the head for a bit (Still hoping for Mom to appear.....YIKES!)
then skedaddled under the closest pine tree to wait it out.
The entire world whooshed and spun,
and I felt like I was inside a giant washing machine.....
Patio furniture went flying, chunks of the roof fell off and every flower in our pots
and yard just disappeared.....Gone in 60 seconds.....Sucked into the Alien Vortex!!!
It seemed like hours, but could only have been minutes.
Any moment, I guessed Little Green Men would appear.....
But, they didn't.
Just Mom, FINALLY, and SHE didn't look too happy.
She scooped me up, made a huge fuss over me, kissed me all over,
and I think there was a bit of mist in her eyes.....
I can't be sure if she was sad for her flowers, or for missing me?
I'm guessing the latter.
She saved me from the Martians and made it all better.
Thanks Mom!
I'm so glad too.....
Cuz I get car sick really easy,
and can't imagine how I'd do in a warp speed flying saucer......
Bleeecchhhhh!!!
MICK'S TIP:
If you have an easily distractible Mom like mine,
keep your Bronco's Helmet handy.....
You never know when you might need protection from alien invaders.
I have rich friends,
and I have poor friends......
I love them all,
and when we go out to play,
it's hard to tell who is who.....
We all just get along.
The Park is a great equalizer!
Some live in huge houses,
with special fences
and real time doggie doors.
Their beds are imported goose down, and their dog food is organic.
Their collars have a special
paw print logo embroidered on them.
Their toys come from an upscale boutique, just for us Kids, down the street.......
These Pups have the life!
Some of my friends live more simply......
But, they're not whining or unhappy.
Often, they have the very best adventures!
(And, they sure do know how to tree a Squirrel!!)
I kind of think we need us all in this world.....
The strutters and the scrappers.
Some are meant to sit back and enjoy life,
and others are meant to ask questions and push the boundaries.
Some are happy and comfortable where they are,
Some will forever look for adventure, and answers.
Some are content.....Some are restless.
Some are curious.....Some are wise.
Each is on his path of life......
Each has something special to offer when the pack gathers.
The important thing, REALLY, is how we all PLAY together!
At the Social Park, we're all in the Mix.
Butt sniffs are standard..... So are lifted legs.....
A few snarls..... Mostly excited Yips!
Soon, a pack of us is racing down the trail,
like a South American Soccer Team in pursuit of a winning goal.
This is JOY in it's purest form......This is definition of Dogdom!
Who CARES what kind of percale dog bed might be your birthright?
I'm drooling right along side my Brother!
YEEEE-HAWWWW!!!
Likewise, at Midnight, when the Fox, Coyote, Bear and Lion stalk,
does anyone ask whose dog voice howls in protest?
No......We are Universal.....WE ARE ONE.....And, we have each others back!
Aooooooo, AAoooooo, AAOOooooooo !!!
A symphony of voices fills the still, dark air.
Begone Wild Ones!
You can't stand up to all of US!!
AAAaaaarrrrooooo!
These are the Kids that have my back.....
And that security spells true wealth.
(All this, and of course Mom's warm lap at the end of the day.)
MICK'S TIP:
Forget what treats you may or may not have.....
Remember, in the dark of night, it's all about having each other.
I'm pretty sure that's what the Doggie Lamma would say......
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Last Friday was my birthday......
Or, so Mom says.
March 28.....
Apparently, a very important date for her.
Because, she had been mentioning it
ALL week.
Now, I'm not one for tracking holidays,
(unlike a swift ground squirrel for instance!)
and it sort of snuck up on me,
but I sure do LOVE all the treats that go with Birthdays!!!
So, I was really looking forward to the FUN!
Mom said this was a big one,
because I turned 8
and she says I'm now on the Back Nine.....
(Whatever THAT means?)
So, suddenly on Friday afternoon,
our kitchen was filled with balloons,
bows, party hats, and the savory
bacon smell of dog treats (my FAVORITE kind!)
We even had cupcakes (banana flavor with purple yogurt icing!)
WOW, this is the LIFE!!!
The entire family (Lucy too, unfortunately) gathered in the kitchen
and there were treats EVERYWHERE.
My taste buds were in overload.
Liver, fish, bacon, cheese.....
Then, the presents came out, wrapped in colorful bags
that I could really sink my teeth into!
There was a Camo T-shirt (unfortunately too small....could it be the treats?)
an Elephant tug toy from Dad,
and a really great purple Monkey from my Human Brother and his Girl.
I quickly forgot the pupperoni stix for a good shake of that Monkey.
I named him Cheech.....It has a ring to it, don't you think??
Mom and Dad had a good laugh at that.
We ALL had a wonderful time, and even Lucy was smiling
(Which, of course, why NOT.....
she's sucking down MY great treats.....
And sneaking off with MY new toys.....
But, I was determined to be good sport.....I'm MATURE now)
Later,I settled down for a wonderful snooze,
and though my tummy was gurgling a bit more than usual,
All in All, it was a Banner Day!!!
They say it's my Birthday.....Da, da, da, da, da.....da.
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-z-z-z-z-z..........
MICK'S TIP:
Make every day a treat.....
You never know when you might hit the 18th Hole.
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