I just finished reading Marley & Me. The movie is coming out in December, and I always have to read the book before I see the movie. It is a book about a newly-wed couple that brings home a neurotic lab puppy to be a part of their new little family. (I know, this sounds familiar, right?) It was a great book. I don't think it is a book for everyone, just people that love dogs. A lot. I laughed and I cried. There were some parts of the book that I read and thought, "Are you sure you aren't telling a story about my dog?" As John Grogan told horror stories about the terrible things that Marley did, I found myself thinking, "Oh, that's not that bad..." which made the book even funnier to me. My dad thinks that I should write a book about Brooks and his giant personality. He is a great topic for conversation. Chris and I think so, anyway. Every day, people at school or my parents or Chris's family want to know about the latest thing Brooks has gotten into. And every day there is something to tell. So maybe I will write a book...I tried to make a few pictures of Brooks over the past few days. My parents like to show him off to their friends in Little Rock. He has been especially stubborn. I think he is pouting because he hasn't figured out how to escape his new crate (yet). He didn't really want to pose, until the camera batteries started to die. Then he would turn his head and look all cute, and hold his stick in his mouth in a very photogenic manner.
Reading the book made me realize that yes, our dog is neurotic and totally unpredictable, but the bad outweighs the good. He is so loyal and he tries really hard to make us proud dog owners. He is always so happy to see me when I get home. So yes, maybe he has cost us a few grand in damages in the two short years we have had him, but he earns his keep. Most days.
3 comments:
I love it! Brooks is fantastic.
Luke (our pastor) asked me the other day if being pregnant has made me think about Quinn differently, like if knowing the second child was on the way had eased up any neurotic parenting tendencies... I didn't quite know what to say. My neurotic tendencies center around potential nut allergies and being strapped into the carseat the right way, and I don't forsee those being any different with extra babies. There are some things you can't control, and some things you can. And if I can keep my kids from going into shock because they ate too many nuts too early, or if I can avoid a broken neck in a car crash, then i'm just doing my job as the mother.
Luke's examples were stuff like letting Quinn start eating off the floor and not calling the doctor just because he has a fever. I told him that Quinn's been eating stuff off the floor ever since he could REACH the floor (and he was playing by himself on the back deck today, eating dried leaves), and I've NEVER called the doctor because Quinn had a fever. (I think to a certain point they should sweat it out... as long as it's not over about 100.5, I don't even give him any medicine.)
ANYWAY (I'm out of control today), I really like this post. I think you're right and that being "bad" is more fun than being straight-laced. Quinn does all sorts of fun (and funny) stuff when he's being a rascal, and Brooks does too.
Yay for bad dogs (and for rascally boys)!
You are not out of control! These are great thoughts. Chris promises me that babies aren't that much scarier or demanding puppies, but I am not quite convinced yet, even with all of our Quinn/Brooks comparisons.
And reading your post made me realize that Brooks is probably neurotic because I am an inconsistent flaky dingbat and Chris is consumed with med school.
We are nuerotic so how could our dog be any other way?
LOL If Quinn can survive me and Jonathan, Brooks (and children) can survive you and Chris!
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