Marley & Me

Geof and I went to see Marley & Me this evening and it was not what I expected (I didn't read the book yet). It was better and then some. The entire story really hit home for both of us because it's about a couple that is just starting out and they do not have much and then get a puppy that becomes a huge part of their life. It shows the progression of John & Jenny losing a child, having children, leaving jobs, getting promoted, moving and more importantly Marley growing into a dog and getting older. I sobbed the last 40 minutes of the movie and really had to work to keep myself from doing the dreaded “ugly cry”.
I came home and gave our dogs extra love and attention. In my life I have lost 3 dogs, two of which I was too young to remember how much sadness it caused me. The third was my dog “Topper”. He was a black lab and so wonderful. I remember when I was in high school and he started getting sick. He had problems with his hips and it got to the point that my mom would literally carry him outside to go to the bathroom. It was a heartbreaking decision (mainly for my mom) when we had to put him down and things weren’t the same in the house for awhile. I still miss him. When I was 19, we got another black lab and named him “Happy”. I’ve grown up and moved out and Happy is still going strong and my mom still has him. She brings him over to visit with my dogs and him and I still have a special bond. He always used to know when I was upset and would just sit there with his head on my lap to help me get through it. He is 11 now and I don’t even want to think about when it’s him time to go. I still remember the day that I brought his home.
I now have two dogs of my very own (Chase who is almost 2 & Mandy who is 6). I love them with all my heart and more than some people. Dogs are such loving, dependable and wonderful creatures. I am thankful to have and previously had the love of a dog.
“A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see” –John Grogan”


Happy


Chase & Mandy