Tell Me About It posted 7/22/2009 12:02:55 PM | 13 kudos what's this?     report abuse

Tunes4u

With the time at hand, and a trusty glass of Merlot, I waited for the Return of the King.

For the last day or so I had pictured in my mind what the reunion would be like. I could see in my mind’s eye, the King of Frolic jumping all over me with his ears laid back on his head and a big grin on his face. After all, a couple weeks had gone by where he knew no one, and had no idea where I was or where he was. Total confusion. His behavior had flagged the problem. He had been lonesome. So they sent him home to me, where he should of been all along.

I pictured his return,
his tail wagging furiously while he could hardly keep his paws off me, jumping and leaping for joy. Happy at last to see me, his home, his yard, and his friends next door.

I waited last night. When I say waited…I mean waited. I figured it up a little too early . Like about an hour early. I sat out on the front porch for an hour, my eye hardly ever leaving the far corner of our street, where I knew they would eventually have to turn into and drive up to the house.

I had a drink sip of wine. Dinner was all but ready. I had prepared my daughter’s favorite meal for her and her new boyfriend Neil. I could not imagine what was taking so long. Her cell phone had gone dead as it turned out. But still, calculating from where I had spoken to her last, they should be here any minute. Another gulp sip of wine.

A slight sense of frustration mixed with a little worry started to creep into my head. I got up, and went into the house to check on things….filled up the wine glass…..back to the porch and my fantasizing on just how Oz, The Great and Powerful was gonna react. I kept thinking about the stories of Black Beauty, Old Yeller, The Fantastic Journey, Call of the Wild, and of course Lassie.

Back to the porch….back to the kitchen….

Refill….back to the porch….back to the kitchen…..and while I was doing some mindless thing and having a guzzle sip of wine, I heard the car pull up. At last! Here comes my beautiful baby girl, and Oz, the King of Frolic. I quickly put some doggie treats in my pockets. His favorite thing. That would be sure to score some points.

They got out of the car, and there he was….but I wanted to grab my baby first and give her my very best Daddy hug. And tell her how much I missed her, and how happy I was to see her. I had a hearty handshake with Neil, a very good looking lad, tall dark and handsome.

Turning, there he was, and I bent over and said hello in my most excited “dog voice” I could muster up, expecting a giant outburst of energy and joy.

He looked at me and sat down. And he stared at me with his piercing blue eyes…Oz Eyes…
I stood back up puzzled….and a little confused. Luckily, I had left my glass of wine inside, or I might have had another gulp sip.

Undaunted, I clapped my hands and made a body motion like I wanted to play…..nothing. He just looked at me like I was an idiot.

Starting to feel like one, I felt a rather huge letdown overcoming me. I remembered this attitude. This Great Northern Dog Attitude of independence and aloofness. It was one of the things I liked best about him. I had forgotten while dreaming up our perfect Norman Rockwell scenario.

I said Hi…..Hi Oz….How are ya Boy? And patted my thigh like I wanted to pet him. Inside I was dying to smother him with hugs and adulation, rolling on the ground getting licks and kisses. But I suddenly realized, that was out of the question. He just sat there. No damn undignified bull for him. He just sat there looking at me. Every friend of his in the neighborhood was welcoming him back with their barking and running up and down the fence, and he just sat there, looking at me. Buddies on all sides of our yard…making a god awful racket and commotion. And he just sat there, looking at me.

I was getting uncomfortable. Where the hell was the wine when ya needed it dummy? I need a drink…..

And then…suddenly…while I looked around for a place to sit down, it started.

The Great Northern Howl.

The lips smacking, and the words trying to come out of his mouth, Husky style. And he sat there…and told me all about it.

The neighborhood grew suddenly quiet….except for the Great and Powerful Oz.
And he talked…trying so hard to make words…or maybe he was talking his talk….but it was eerie. It was a bit unsettling to my daughter and her friend….we looked at each other while Oz continued.

Just when I thought he was finished…came the frightening Howl. Long, lonesome, cold, and from a different place. Someplace I knew nothing about. A wild and desolate place. From somewhere a long time ago, and deep within his heart. His head was straight up, throat extended, aiming it at the universe. I am quite sure the whole of the universe heard it.

And then…he was done. I was stunned, and tears of total amazement were streaming down my face. He was finished. It was told. Done with.
He stood up, walked over to my chair, and laid down beside me, and looked up at me and put his chin on my thigh. I put my hand on his head. And through my stinging tears of remorse, I told him I was sorry. And that I would do my best to never let anything like that happen again. And his eyes closed, peaceful and at rest. And so did mine.


Stay Tuned


I Do


Tunes

Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)

Blogs by Tunes4u: Which Door Did You Come In? Flying Everyone Knows it's Windy My Back Porch Sweet Dreams Jennifer Attention To My "Friends" List BYOG Gathering Up New Friends Leo The Boy is Gone Sunday Breakfast Going Down Tell Me About It Speaking of Dogs... *One Day In The Park Do You Measure Up? Garage Sale....Free House Attached The High, Really Lonesome, Plains of Wyoming boB No Earthquakes Lately Blind Squirrel Runnin' I am Much Better Now Ollie........ High Techs May I Introduce You to........Yourself? I Need Some Advice .....