Fragments From Floyd

Fragments Senior Moment

I built up the suspense as we approached the Puppy Reunion on October 11, expecting a whiz-bang post with pictures of Tsuga and his siblings in all sorts of antics. Didn't happen, exactly. I wrote the story, but then forgot to post it. And so, here is the old news, and those interested can read on...

How the brothers and sisters had turned out in their various homes, and the differences in size and color and temperament; tales of horror and humor from the first six weeks of puppyhood; helpful hints about how to prevent digging, nipping, and general disobedience in young yellow lab puppies... these were some of the things I looked forward to learning from those who would bring Tsuga's littermates back to the Puppy Reunion yesterday. And of course, the pictures would be wonderful... little boy and girl doggies frolicking together fighting over a tennis ball; one puppy up to his knees in the cooler of water the dogs were supposed to drink out of; pups and owners lined up in blurred haphazard order with one pup halfway out of the picture as the shutter snapped. I could imagine it all and hardly wait to post pictures today!

'Tis better to travel hopefully than to arrive, it is said, and such was the case at the puppy reunion. Only one came. There were lots of neighbors and church and work friends of the hosts where the yellow lab litter was born on June 26, and what I guess I had misunderstood was that the party was for them, and the puppy owners were also invited to come. I had thought it was for the purpose of bringing the pups back, and some neighbors were also invited. Ah well. The barbeque was very good, but I would not have spent two hours in the car with a barbarically yowping dog if I'd known Tsuga was going to be an only child.

I'll have to say, the pupster behaved rather admirably. He was so overwhelmed by all the strange smells and other adult dogs. This included meeting his mother who paid him scant attention and his 'aunt' who is now in a family way and scared him considerably when she snarled at him when he showed a bit too much enthusiasm at their first encounter. We put him on the leash and choke chain to contain him rather than letting him run under people's feet and steal their fried chicken and jump gleefully on tiny terrified children. The few times we've tried the leash around home it has been very much like marlin fishing, with Tsuga thrashing, lunging and leaping against the line, and me, the old man and the sea, trying to stay in the boat. But yesterday the little guy was so intimidated by the unfamiliar that he tended to ignore the leash and even heeled for the most part when we attempted to walk around. Good boy, Tsuga! You might grow up to be the pick of the litter after all, and it's just a shame your siblings didn't get a chance to marvel at your mature behavior and sturdy features. Maybe next time.