When I was little, there was a family down the street that had basset hounds. We always had hounds because my dad was a hunter, but we never had a basset hound. We would drive by their house and the dogs would be just hanging out in their driveway. I always loved them and dreamed of having one of my own.
When Christian and I first started dating, he gave me a basset hound Beanie Baby – remember those? This was likely 1998 or 1999. I had told him how much I loved basset hounds.
Our first dog was Buddy, a crazy yellow lab we got as a puppy. He was so big and strong and had a lot of energy. Christian used to run him with the four wheeler. Buddy would just run and run and run. He’d stop, throw up, and keep going. He had his challenges but he was oh so sweet. He slept in bed with us until Charlie was born. He was so good with kids. He was the best. Crazy, but the best.
And then we got McFly. Buddy was about 12 years old at this point. He was achy and going blind and deaf. But he still took McFly under his wing and showed him how to be a good boy.
We lost Buddy a few years later. He’s buried under the apple tree with Strider and Max and Jenny and Duke and Little Girl.
McFly has always been a great dog. He’s a gentle and sweet golden retriever. He has a touch of anxiety though. And thyroid issues and skin allergies too. And after we lost Buddy, we found out he had a heart murmur. The doctor told us he only had one or two years before his heart was going to give out. He was about 3 when we she told us that.
Christmas 2017, Christian told me he had to travel to South Carolina for work. It was last minute, only a few days before Christmas. I was like, WTF, but okay. He said he had to go look at a ride that was for sale at an amusement park. Turns out he was driving down to pick up Gracie Lou, our basset hound. She was my Christmas present that year. And she really is the gift that keeps on giving. Huge personality, stubborn and oh so lovable.
We took McFly to the heart doctor last month for his yearly check up. It’s been about 4 years since she told us his diagnosis. He’s 7 now and the doctor calls him McFly the Wonder Dog. Thanks Gracie Lou.
Thanks for reading today’s entry in my daily blog. My goal here is to practice noticing. I try to write about small things and I try to keep it light. Sometimes I write about creativity or healing. And sometimes I write about my dogs or what I cooked for dinner. Writing daily here is a way for me to shine a light back on my life and help me see.
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Pam Moore Gainer 