Day 118
9/9/22
Oreo was quite a girl!!!
One day, Jimmy and Katie were volunteering at the Humane Society in the neighboring town. As they were too young to drive yet, I was their chauffer. I dropped them off and drove out to pick them up…vowing to not enter that building under any circumstances! I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I would walk out with a dog. I wasn’t wrong!
The twins did not have cell phones at this point in their young lives, so I had to go to the doorway to, hopefully, motion them to the car. No such luck! Their friend, Steven, was with them and he approached the doorway. His message from my two was that I needed to come in quickly because they had a dog in a visitation room and needed an adult to join them.
With trepidation, I entered the building and approached the room. I could see their hopeful faces through the window as they petted the biggest dog I had seen in a long time! I gingerly opened the door and was met by drool, hair and appeals to take this big guy home. I was urged to hurry with my decision because someone else was waiting to see him and adopt him. I assured the twins and Steven that he was already “saved” and we should let the next family have this guy. With sad faces, they asked if they could say goodbye, so I left them and made the mistake of heading towards the kennels.
There, leaning up against the fencing, was the most beautiful, soft, sad looking border collie. I put my hand against the kennel, she licked my hand, and I was doomed! She came home with us 20 minutes later!
This wonderful dog brought us joy, laughter, and consternation. We loved her for 12 years and also for eternity. She created so many memories for our family. Most are retold with a smile and a shake of the head, but the following one is always shared with laughter.
I was working my day job (second grade teacher) and also running to two universities for my night job. It was a crazy time, and I would get a bit scattered from time to time. I arrived home from teaching a class at UWRF (University of Wisconsin River Falls) to be met at the door by my kids. They warned me that I was not going to be happy!
Oreo was loving, protective and vindictive! I must have done something to displease her, and I paid the price. Waiting until the coast was clear, she must have slunk into the dining room where I had my “office,” found my St. Mary’s University briefcase, examined the contents thumbing through with her dew claw and had her revenge. I entered to find an ENTIRE set of class papers SHREDDED all over the dining room floor! She simply watched with an expression that could only be akin to satisfaction!
I fussed, I shed a few helpless tears and then I gathered it all up in a big plastic bag. How could I tell these students that their hard work was destroyed?
I entered the classroom and told them I had an announcement to make. Holding up the bag of shredded paper, I said, “My dog ate YOUR homework!” There was nervous laughter and a few outright guffaws! I then added that they all got A’s on their papers! Now there was an uproar of cheers and genuine laughter…especially from that one student who probably hadn’t turned anything in! No one will ever know!!!
