Buddy

Buddy the black lab.  My parent’s older of two black labs.  Mom named Buddy shortly after he came to live with us.  Why "Buddy" I asked?  "Because he's your father's new buddy."  And the name was set.  

One afternoon while I was reading, Buddy comes up to me and says, “My name is Roberto”. 

I said “Bobby for short?” He laughed. 

“No – just Roberto”.  He thought Bobby sounded too close to an English police person and he was more outlaw, than law enforcement.  I call him Roberto when it's just the two of us and this makes him immensely happy. 

Buddy came hardwired, as many rescues do, with a fear response.  He barks like mad at men.  He loves women, especially the quiet, gentle ones.  He loves the game of fetch but plays the variation called "keep away".  Darby plays the “I’ll chase it down but you fetch” variety.  I introduced Buddy to a new toy - the jolly ball.  The jolly ball is a hard plastic ball with five big cut out circles, with a smaller rubber ball inside.  The jolly ball is virtually indestructible and floats in the pool.  A dog carries the jolly ball around by placing his lower part of his mouth in the jolly ball hole and biting down.  It takes a little getting used to.  Zach loves to make Buddy laugh by placing the jolly ball on his nose, resembling a canine clown.  

In the past few weeks Buddy has embraced his inner puppy and adopted me as his favorite new pack mate.  He no longer stands behind Zach waiting for the morning loving.  He has brought me Zach’s stuffed animals and ropes to throw, as if to say “throw this for Zach and I’ll help him chase it”.  And twice now, while I’ve been quietly crying, worrying about the things I can’t control and can’t let go of, he has circled around me in my chair and placed his head in my lap.  Buddy, in a word, has become my buddy. 

Last night, he reminded me it was ok to look for the fun and joy in the small, every day moments and set the fear aside.  He grabbed a dirty dish towel from the laundry room, and resembling his ever present younger puppy brother, stuck his butt in the air and front paws on the floor and said, “Come on!”  And we played. 

Thanks Buddy.