More Puppy to Love

When I was a kid, I always wanted one of those huge stuffed animals; you know, the kind that was bigger than me. I wanted a bear so big I could sit in its lap, a horse so big it would need its own stable or a giant puppy or kitty cat. Never mind we had a REAL dog, REAL cat and REAL horse. (No bear, though.)

I never got one.

It's OK. I understand why my parents never gave me one (not sure I've forgiven Santa, however). First of all, they are really expensive. I mean, one of those big, soft lovable creatures probably cost more than a lot of people's first car. Second, they take up a lot of space. My room was messy enough. I suppose my parents didn't think there would be room for such a large toy. (I'm also pretty sure they didn't think it would stay clean.) And third, if I got one, my sisters would want want one of their own.

Friday, T Junior and I took Lucy to the dog show. It was a specialty show meaning it is put on by our local boxer club and the judge is a man or woman who specializes in our breed: boxers. Along with the show, the club holds a raffle and a silent auction to raise funds. I didn't really plan on spending any money there, but when I saw it, I knew I had to get some raffle tickets.

There, on one of the tables, was a HUGE stuffed puppy! It looked like something I would've wanted when I was a kid. I bought six tickets for five bucks and dropped them all in the stuffed puppy bag. Since most of our dog show friends are adults with grown children, I thought I had a pretty good chance at winning. And, guess what? I did! I was so excited. I just know when T Junior gets a little older he will LOVE that stuffed puppy. He'll be able to curl up on top of it, use it as a pillow, or pretend he's riding it across the countryside or wherever little boys pretend to ride things to.

We only had one problem, well not really a problem -- more like an embarrassment of riches: Lucy won at the show. Besides winning the coveted Winners ribbon and two more points toward her championship, she also won a HUGE fluffy dog bed. Somehow, I had to get T Junior, the stroller, Lucy and a HUGE dog bed and a HUGE stuffed puppy back to the minivan, which (of course) was parked out in BFE.

I loaded T Junior in his stroller, put the dog bed on top and the stuffed puppy on top of that. I could just barely see in front of me. Luckily, Lucy is a good walker: she doesn't pull on the leash and she generally stays out of the way of the stroller's wheels.

We got a lot of funny looks on our voyage back to the van, but we made it and we were happy: Lucy with her big new bed and I with my HUGE stuffed puppy, which -- alright, alright -- is technically for T Junior.

T Junior and his new stuffed buddy.