Luckiest Girls in the World

Years ago, my wife Elsie and I were flying home from Portland after a weeklong business and leisure trip.

Our daughter Leandra was caring for our patio garden and Elsie‘s pup Roxy, a Yorkie.

As we approached San Antonio, I said, “I can’t wait to see our daughter.” It was obvious from Elsie’s smile that she agreed.

Upon landing, I raced to hug our lovely daughter Leandra. Elsie raced to Roxy.

Aaaah, don’t get me started.

Roxy and I have a Love-Hate relationship. I love Roxy, and Roxy hates me, despite what you may have heard.

First off Roxy’s pretty, I’ll give her that. If not, I would have long ago told Elsie I found the gate open.

Second of all, she’s a misbehaver, and so is her dog.

Drama? If Elsie is the Drama Queen, Roxy is the Drama Duchess of Yorkshire.

When we first got her, Elsie told me she paid $200 for the newborn puppy. Years later, I overheard Elsie reveal she paid $500.

Roxy is Elsie.

To know Roxy is to be bitten by Roxy.

When Roxy started biting me, Elsie would half-heartily discipline her, “Roxy don’t do that,” and then Elsie would pull her close for a huge hug, because she thought it was so cute.

That’s teaching her!

But it’s more than the growling and biting every time I approach Elsie, or go upstairs, or turn a corner.

It’s being outnumbered, it’s the revenge puddles when Roxy stays behind, it’s pee-pad flooring in the living room, the vet, the grooming, the wardrobe, and it’s that every travel opportunity needs to be weighed against Roxy’s needs.

Did you know it costs $180 to fly a dog round-trip to Savannah?

Sometimes at the grocery story, I’ll wait in the car and panic when smiling children pull their moms close to see the doggie in the window. Roxy lunges at them, sending them away screaming.

We weren’t officially banned from the dog park, but it was obvious we couldn’t return.

Awhile back, I volunteered to let Roxy out on a sleepy Saturday morning.

I opened the door downstairs and she was off - about 10 feet - where she stopped, slowly scanned the patio garden, before turning around and sneaking back in to beg for a treat. As I searched for a treat, Roxy relieved herself in the living room.

You would have thought I was Roxy’s best friend, as she danced playfully to earn her treat, but not more than five minutes later, she was back to her growling grumpy self as I reached the top of the stairs.

During warmer weather, I swim and walk daily in our neighborhood pool.

I love the plunge into cool water, soaking up scads of Vitamin D, and the brain break, which comes from swimming on my back and transforming the cloudscape into shapes.

Spiritual cloud shapes are easy, as are faces.

Sometimes I’ll see shapes change, like when a tall ship reshaped itself into a fish that swam across the sky.

Once I spotted Roxy’s portrait in the sky; it was so detailed that wispy clouds formed her whiskers.

After navigating a turn, I glanced back at Cloud Roxy to find her growling.

Roxy and Elsie have a Love-Love relationship. Elsie loves Roxy, and Roxy loves Elsie.

Elsie is an in-your-face person. She often pins Roxy down for a snuggle session. Poor Roxy is so tiny she can’t break loose from Elsie. Luckily, dogs love love, and Elsie is eager to oblige.

One of their cutest connections occurs when we settle in for a movie on our dual lounger. Roxy circles her favorite spot at Elsie’s feet, she’ll stretch, curl up into a ball, and then very deliberately and without looking, Roxy will raise one of her hind paws and place it on Else’s bare leg. Elsie melts as she points to their paw touch, every single time.

I found a small porcelain container labeled Baby Teeth recently. In it were Leandra and Roxy’s teeth.

Roxy is Elsie’s baby, and Elsie is Roxy’s mama.

If All Dogs Go to Heaven as the movie contends, then Jesus has his hands full, and Elsie is heartbroken.

Pretty puppy prayers for Roxy and Elsie please.

Rest In Peace Roxy.