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Carmel Magazine Digital Edition SU16

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S ometimes the best gift is some- thing you never wanted. When my oldest child was 12, he came home from school one day w ith a "proposal." The boy was sharp, but "proposal" was a big word. It got my attention. "What's up?" I said. His buddy Brian was moving to Italy, he said, where Brian's dad, an officer in the military, had been reassigned. For a moment, I held my breath. Did Brian want to live with us? Luckily it wasn't about Brian. It was about Brian's dog. "He's a great dog, Mom," said the boy, "a Sheltie, like Lassie, but smaller. If he goes to Italy, he'll have to be quar- antined for a really long time. Brian said he'd rather give him to us than do that to him." Dogs mean different things to dif- ferent people. Growing up, I never had a dog of my own. They were always around, fighting over scraps we threw out in the yard, or scratch- ing their fleas under the porch. But they never belonged to me. They came and went, often falling victim to truckers, who probably never meant to harm them, but didn't bother to stop. It's a wonderful thing having a pet to love. But having a "pet of the week" can make you wary. I told the boy I didn't need another creature to feed and care for and clean up after. "I promise I'll feed him and walk him," he said. "I'll even clean up his poop." I rolled my eyes. "C'mon, Mom. It'll be fun. You can learn a lot from a dog." I laughed and the boy knew he had me. That's how we ended up with Tuffy. The name came with the dog, along with the fur and the fleas and, yes, the poop. Promises aside, responsibility for the dog ended up in my dishpan hands. I was the mom. Moms are responsible. We feed. We take care of things. We clean up the poop. It's what we do. We also love. That's the part of the "mom job" that makes other parts doable. With Tuff, my head said, "don't let him in!" But my heart didn't listen. It never does. I fell flat-out in love with that dog. Why? Who knows how love works? Here are a few reasons: First, I loved how he loved my children. I assure you they were not always lovable. But he loved them anyway, just as I did, come what may, no matter what. Like me, he would've died to protect them. Second, I loved how my kids loved him. Like a brother, but better. They never fought or argued with him, never blamed him if they got in trouble. They each thought he was their dog alone. I let them think it, but they were wrong. He was mine. Third, I loved how he loved me. When I walked into a room, Tuff would get up to greet me, even when his joints ached with age. If I did things he hated—forgot to buy dog food or yelled at him for chasing a neighbor's cat or sent him out to do his business in the rain —he'd lick my hand like I was not the worst, but the best human on earth. Usually, he slept with one of my kids. But on nights when, for some reason, I felt especially alone, I'd wake to find Tuff curled up, sleeping on my feet. Dogs seldom outlive their masters. Tuff was no exception. But I'm glad to say that, unlike other dogs in my life, he did not get hit by a truck. Instead, he developed a brain tumor. The vet wept as she put him to sleep. I held him in my arms and sang "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and watched that fine light in his eyes fade away. He was a good friend. I was blessed to have him in my life. I hope he'd say the same of me. I told you that story to tell you this: 1. Gifts can look like burdens, but what you think you don't want might be what you need. 2. When loss locks your hear t, love is the key that will open it. 3. Finally, children are prophets. They tell us what we need to hear, whether we want to hear it or not. The boy was right. You can learn a lot from a dog. Sharon Randall is a syndicated columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. This column is used by permission. She divides her time between the Monterey Peninsula and "Las Vegas of All Places." She can be contacted at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson, NV 89077 or at www.sharonrandall.com. 54 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 6 POSTCARDS FROM HOME S H A R O N R A N D A L L They each thought he was their dog alone. I let them think it, but they were wrong. He was mine. A Dog Story

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