Prada eating a RAT!
Being a mother of three boys, I have hosted (and endured) a lot of pets: dogs, fish, rabbits, turtles, lizards, frogs, water dragons, rocks and SNAKES! Snakes are the most unwelcome creatures in my home. I am most certainly "Wimpy" when dealing with the snakes. I hate everything about them- the shedding, the feeding, the cage mess, and the smell. We presently have 2 snakes. I try not to even look at them when I enter the room. I truly believe these animals are cursed from God.
Being a mother of three boys, I have hosted (and endured) a lot of pets: dogs, fish, rabbits, turtles, lizards, frogs, water dragons, rocks and SNAKES! Snakes are the most unwelcome creatures in my home. I am most certainly "Wimpy" when dealing with the snakes. I hate everything about them- the shedding, the feeding, the cage mess, and the smell. We presently have 2 snakes. I try not to even look at them when I enter the room. I truly believe these animals are cursed from God. But as we look in the rear view mirror of our family's adventures, some of the boys' favorite memories are centered around our pets. Adam and Aaron always have a good laugh at my expense describing the infamous "Chinese Water Dragon Escape". This big green critter got out of his cage, then reappeared suddenly, days later, at the top of the dining room drapes. I'm still in therapy.
But I will always have a dog-shaped hole in my heart for Duke. This is Duke before we had him put-down last summer.
Duke was just a mutt. My brother gave Duke to us as a puppy predicting Duke would be a small dog. Duke grew to be almost 65 pounds; Duke was friendly, but large and in-charge!
One day I got a call from the local neighborhood Wal-mart. The manager was on the phone. The conversation went something like this:
"Hello"
"Is this the Morris residence?"
"Yes"
"I think we have your dog. Is your dog named Duke? We got this number from the dog tag."
"Yes. We have a dog named Duke."
"Well, this is the manager at Wal-mart on Memphis-Arlington. Duke was eating the croissants from the bread counter inside the store. He's a friendly dog. but could you come get him? We'll hold him till you get here."
"OK. I'll be right there"
Evidently the automatic doors can work for a dogs' advantage. But the funny thing about this episode at Wal-mart is that it happened at least 2 more times! I was too embarrassed to go back the 2nd & 3rd times for Duke, and just sheepishly sent one of the boys to retrieve him.
My wise sister recently posted a blog about all she had learned from her dog, Toni. I would agree that Duke also taught me some great life lessons. One being, 'Don t settle for plain white bread, when you can have croissants!'
That is too funny about Duke, I will have to read that one to Hannah! BTW, anything is better than white bread!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to agree with you on the snakes -- cursed by God!! Is this what I have to look forward to with two boys of my own??!!
Well, just be prepared! In fact we met a lot of close friends at the pet store while buying weird animals. I guess that's another blog in itself. boys just like reptiles! Don't get it myself. If that snake ever gets out, it really will become a purse!
ReplyDeleteNow Christi,
ReplyDeleteSnakes (like all of God's creatures) are unique and amazing. If you've ever watched a constrictor eat a rat whole then you can't help but be amazed at how God designed them to be able to accomplish this task without the use of any arms or legs. It is simply facinating. And, anything that kills and eats rodents can't be all bad.
Although you don't LIKE reptiles you obviously understand the facination that people (especially young boys) have with them. Remember when you had me bring Rex (one of the Chinese Water Dragons) to VBS, or, the time you asked me to bring Big Girl (Kevin's 17 ft Burmese Python) to VBS. We had several hundred children and their teachers (about 30 at one time) pet her that day. We even got a picture of Dr. Rodgers holding all 200 pounds of her (wish I could find that picture now).
Duke was YOUR dog. I learned to love him because he was such a faithful companion to you. He would just lie on the bed next to you on the days when you were fatigued. On the days that you were up and about he would follow you around the house. That dog loved you! Even when I remember the many trips to the pound that I made to retrieve him after his escapes under or through the fence or the fact that the local dog catcher had our number on speed-dial and began calling us and giving us an opportunity to reclaim him before he ever made it to the pound, or the many calls from neighbors who said that they had our dog and would hold him until we got there to get him, or the vet bills when he escaped and was run over by a van, I still learned to love him because he was such a faithful companion to YOU!
Jeff
I am laughing out loud. Duke was a roamer!
ReplyDeleteJeff, what a great comeback regarding Duke VS SNAKES, REPTILES!!
Christi, you could write a newspaper column. That is hilarious. I love the description of the dog-shaped hole in your heart. I sure understand that. Jeff, I agree all God's creatures are majestic, but I really do believe Christi will make a purse if that one gets out.
ReplyDelete