PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Ready to Love Again
November 26, 2007 on 4:23 pm | In Inspirations, Just Funny, Reminiscence |Doesn’t that sound like some kind of corny Lifetime movie channel thing?
Which reminds me of one of my favorite true stories. Some years ago I was on a fun weekend outing in Williamsburg, VA with Scott Wells (TheBoyInTheBands) and we were in our hotel room unpacking. We turned on the television set and ignored it while we chatted and put our things away. At some point I asked, “What channel is this, anyway?” And Scott replied, “Oh, it’s probably Lifetime Channel or something.” “Naw,” I said. “If it was Lifetime it would be a movie about Mare Winningham as an abused wife fleeing her sociopathic husband.” Scott grabbed the remote control and turned on the volume just in time to hear the actor on screen say in a sinister fashion to another actor, “Are you insinuating the I BEAT MY WIFE?” Moments later, Mare Winningham came on screen. We laughed so hard I threw my back out.
ANYWAY, Ready To Love Again isn’t a Lifetime channel movie. It’s SisterBang’s excitement over this little gal born on November 10th:
Some people say when their dog dies that they can never have another dog because it hurts too much to lose the first one. I can understand that, and I respect it. But SisterBang and I both feel that doggies need loving people to care for them and that if you’ve made room in your life for a dog, it’s a wonderful thing to just keep welcoming them for as long as you can, if you can. Gordon was such an extension of SisterBang’s life — the rhythms of her days and weekends were synced to his needs. They were a team. Watching him decline from a robust, shiny-coated canine stud to a deaf and blind, winter-faced, creaky old gentleman was very hard on both of them. He was such a good boy, pushing himself to stay active and to engage with her until he was just too sick to do so. It hurt her terribly to watch him suffer. She will miss him always.
But all kinds of dogs need homes, and SisterBang has been talking to breeders of miniature dachsunds for some time now in preparation for the time she would no longer have Gordon (who was a shelter dog). She may be going to get this pup in February and I’m so happy for both of them. Look at those ear buds! And just imagine the puppy smell.
Wouldn’t it be great if the love between humans was so pure and uncomplicated that, after the loss of one relationship we would feel bruised but immediately ready to love someone again? Cripes, I didn’t dare date for about 6-7 years after the end of my last terrible, tumultuous relationship with a man who turned out to be a pathological liar and a cheating skunk. I figured if my judgment had been that poor (couldn’t have been worse unless it had been a Lifetime Channel character), I shouldn’t trust myself to fall in love with anyone. I haven’t since, and that little debacle was over in 1997. But there’s no need to do that with dogs. Dogs don’t have baggage — if you love them enough and can devote enough time to them, you’re pretty much guaranteed a true romance.
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Gosh,,you take me back to my childhood of dachshunds…three litters of puppies. Great learning and loving experience. And yeah, that puppy smell!
Comment by Christine Robinson — November 26, 2007 #
Awwww! We just welcomed our own mini-dachsie puppy after the death of our beloved Gretel (also a dachsie, who died at age 14). Everyone in the family loves our new Beatrice so much that my neice and daughter now have pups from the same breeder. Dachsies are the best and this one looks super cute.
Congratulations to all!
Comment by Quotidian Grace — November 26, 2007 #
Oh my! Oh y! Oh my! Congrats and prayers for healing for the loss of Gordon.
I never fully understood this until I adopted a beagle from the local rescue society last September. In a few short weeks I was acutely aware when Nicholas was not around — and I missed him.
This morning, after arriving home from the airport, I quickly heated up the house and called my friend who would bring him back home. I waited as impatiently as a small child (I am in my early 50’s). We went on a walk, and played, and now we’re going to nap.
I am now cover in dog hair.
Joy!
Comment by BJ — November 26, 2007 #
DACHSUNDS! My ultimate favorite. They have the sweetest spunkiest personalities. I wanted one but we live on the second and third floors of an old Victorian and it just seemed unwise, what with their little back issues and all.
Dogs can have baggage, though; I think you’re wrong about that. My sweet (and spunky) Milo certainly came with some. But they’re willing to put it down once they’ve learned to trust you enough, and don’t take perverse pride in it as people often do. Doggies are pure goodness.
Good for SisterBang for being able to open her heart again so soon.
Comment by Miss Conduct — November 26, 2007 #
Oh, I think her name is Belle!
Comment by Debbie — November 26, 2007 #
My mom has a miniature dachsund named Lola. So cute, but very yippy.
Me, I’m solely a cat person, though I appreciate other people’s dogs. After we had to put our orange Hobbes down, right before moving, the old and new houses just didn’t feel right until we adopted our stripey girls, Scout and Scarlett. Not having a cat is like not having a left hand.
Comment by Jess — November 26, 2007 #
DJ will be sooooo jealous. We have a standard doxie but he’s always wanted a mini. (I believe the miniatures are less aggressive than the standards. Ours is a territorial demon.)
Comment by Peregrinato — November 27, 2007 #
*doin a little doggie dance*
I’m so excited! And a dachsund! They’re incorrigible– but fantastic.
Comment by Mrs. M — November 27, 2007 #
Mrs. M, when I was thinking about getting a doxie I went to the park where there was a regular Thursday-night doxie meetup … I told some of the people I was planning to get a puppy because I wanted the fun of training it myself.
They rolled on the ground laughing and crying until the dogs all got scared and ran away.
Comment by Miss Conduct — November 27, 2007 #
Awwwwww, puppy! I second the lady who said that dogs can have issues. My beloved Sandy sure did- he was a Humane Society rescue. Great dog, but I quickly became aware of his issues and limitations.
But I loved him til the day he died, and I never would have traded him for any other yellow lab in the universe. My Sandy was my Sandy, issues and all.
True love, indeed.
Peace, Rev Bee who is interviewing breeders for her own future puppy!
Comment by Rev Bee — November 27, 2007 #