We are celebrating one year with Bridie today.
A year ago today, we took off for Ellensburg, Wash., to meet our new Border Collie pup.
Twas outside the Starbucks just off the freeway where we first spotted the little furry lady playing in the grass with her owner, Griffin Berger.
Griffin had driven with Bridie from Concrete, Wash., in the Skagit Valley where he runs a fruit farm.
After a short visit and some quick pictures, we went our separate ways. As Bill drove, I sat in the passenger seat, trying to find a comfortable way for Bridie to sit on my lap.
That was not to happen because she was a big pup---13 weeks old. It seemed more like I was holding a giant-sized black, brown and white noodle, slithering from side to side and up and down my body in our tiny, confined space.
Soon realizing the new wet-noodle pup needed more space, we pulled over to a rest stop east of Ellensburg, where Bridie, as yet without a collar, got away from me and hid under the car.
My heart was in my throat for a minute or two, fearing she may trot away and go toward the highway.
Fortunately, I caught her and wasted no time attaching the collar, which was attached to a lead.
Bridie spent the rest of the trip in a doggie crate in the back of the car. We stopped several times, and she soon learned to lead.
The next few months were abundant with Bridie stories and and an equal amount of time wondering why, at our ages, we needed a puppy---in the winter, no less!
Those moments, though, were happily offset by frequent moments of laughter brought on by our funny, oblivious and happy little dog as we went through the usual puppy sports of cleaning up messes, racing her to the outdoors and helping her recuperate from her spaying surgery only to help her get over a rip in one of her back legs.
Bridie spent a full month wearing a variety of Elizabethan collars, two of which were blowups that were soon deflated, thanks to bite marks from her busy, pin-prick teeth.
As with any puppy we've ever had, Bill and I earned our medals. The true savior, however, in all these Bridie experiences came in the form of big brother Liam.
Still unbeknownst to Liam, he is the center of Bridie's world, especially her inherent need to herd.
That fixation has saved us from near heart attacks of puppydum because we always know that wherever Liam is, Bridie is within his sight, always with her Border Collie eye emphatically aimed at his every move.
These days, we feel comfortable letting Bridie off leash, thanks to Liam. He long ago got over taking off to parts unknown and who now focuses on staying near horses and his peeps. Unless he changes his habits, we can count on Bridie to stick around.
It's been an eventful year with this happy-go-lucky pup, named for our friend at The Bar on the Aran Island of Inis Mor.
The dynamic of once again having three adorable dogs with individual personalities has once again reached the comfort zone.
For that, we are thankful.
And, have you ever guessed that we truly love them all very much?
My friend Edna posted the image below on Facebook this morning, and I think it adequately reflects Bill and my passionate feelings about our dogs.
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The Border Collies had a good time as Bill's assistants yesterday while he was lighting and tending to his bonfires. Little Foster walk with me by leash because of his blindness. |
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