On July 29th, 2010, I was pacing the floor of my apartment. Sweet potato strips were drying/baking in the oven, dog beds were freshly laid out, and we were about to begin a strange, wonderful adventure.
My dog was coming home.
We'd found her a few weeks before, but, as my boyfriend's father put it "the dog's got gigs!" After an assisted living home visit, a pet adoption gathering, and quick trip to the dentist, she was travelling from the 'burbs to the loud city.
She paced through the apartment, sniffing, and finally settled into the little bed I had scored at the White Elephant store, with an air of "that'll do, lady. That'll do." I must admit, despite hours of preparation for getting her into the apartment, I wasn't ready for the whining that came when her foster parents left. I freaked, thinking I had destroyed her existence.
Hysterics abated, and we went for a walk. Not knowing how far she could go, we went all the way to Wrigley and back, and I hoped she'd feel better. We had a connection when we met, but that didn't involve loud trucks and drunk Cubs fans.
These things take time. We noticed the milestones: the first lick on our hands, her first snuggle, the first time she pawed her way in between us as if to say "PERSONAL SPACE!" And from those milestones and beyond, we've learned a lot. For example:
1) The eyes will get you, in a "you don't want those eggs, right???!?!?!" kind of way. Pretty much anyone who has come to our house has fallen under the spell, and had to say goodbye to various scraps of food (whether they wanted to or not). I can't tell those stories much, 'cause it makes people hungry!
2) Panic is okay, but usually unwarranted. I called (and probably still call) the vet at the drop of a hat. Luckily, they get it... well, most of them. The occasional sarcasm generally gives me a clue that it was a ludicrous question.
3) There is no quick fix, especially in the first few months. Training is a process, which makes it all the more worth it when you all succeed.
4) In addition, your dog will always surprise you. Even in her "golden oldies" Twist is able to jump above door knobs, run faster than puppies, and fly through the air. It's probably a good thing we don't know her actual age, and my guess is it's younger than we think. That being said...
5) Age is always a consideration. Two people in their twenties are seldom suited to get a puppy. Lord knows we weren't. To this day, the only thing that has been chewed is a Tupperware. All figurines, breakables, and furniture have remained intact, even if they've been bumped a few times. Although we have had to surrender all of our socks...
I'm currently far from Twister, but the memories here and pictures sent to me daily help me know that we have an amazing dog. To whomever reads this, I hope you give a dog (or cat, up to you) a chance, especially a senior one. The time will fly, and you will love every minute of it.
Happy "birthday", Twisteroo.
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