Megan has the most adorable little nephew. He’s around three I think. So his his “r” is still “aw” and his “a” is still “uh,” but he’s beginning to sound more like a boy than a baby. When Megan recalls the last brilliant thing Zachary has said for me it always cracks me up… not just what he said, but her retelling of it with his baby accent.
“Magun.”
“Yes Zach?”
“Can I ride yaw dawg?”
“Um, no Zach. You can’t ride the dog. It’s not good for the dog. You might hurt her.” The dog in question is Megan’s very long Dachshund, aptly named Otter. I’m sure Otter looks like the perfect riding size to Zach.
A few hours go by and Otter has been played with but happily not ridden.
“Magun. Magun. Magun. Seriously Magun, listen.”
“Yes, Zach?”
“Can I ride yaw dawg now?” The thought of riding that dog just won’t let him go. It is beginning to really bother him.
“No Zach, you cannot ride Otter. She’s just a baby!”
Sometime before the day is through Zach is caught sitting on Otter. Otter looks up at Megan helplessly and lifts her paw as she does when she says, “Please?” Otter is a Rescue dog and evidently, despite her troubled past, she is very patient with children.
I remember wanting to ride my dog. Not Max, our Beagle, but his successor, Rusty, who was a very large and very patient Golden Retriever mix that we saved from the SPCA. He looked to be the perfect size for riding. I think I may have sat on him at one time or another. Even better was draping a sheet over Rusty’s entire body so he looked like a ghost. I thought that was the most hysterical sight ever. I loved watching him try to wrestle himself out of it. He seemed to enjoy it too… well, at least the first time.
Kids are great ones for stirring up sleeping memories.
P.S. Dogs and More Dogs
If you love dogs watch PBS tonight at 8pm. Times may vary depending on your location. There’s a preview if you’re not sure you want to watch it.
And a link I found on Melanie’s page that I adore: The Daily Oliver. I’d love a Weimaraner any day.
Silly Rusty! ©2004 Catherine Erin Hamilton
But it’s better off with Harley cos he knows a Good toy when he sees one! haha Hugs,