Wallace

***Wallace welcomed me home from Brazil in the summer of 2009.***

I met Wallace a couple years ago. He and his mom, my friend Julie, came over a couple months after Bernie died so I could get some doggie love and to watch Marley & Me. I'd never met a Shar-Pei before. Wallace came into my house and like any good dog, he immediately took to investigating every corner of the house. After a minute or two, Julie asked if there was anything laying around I didn't want him to get into, or something to that effect, and I said no.

Oh, wait.

Wallace had gone upstairs, so I ran up there quickly. And yep, Wallace was chewing. He found it.

You see, when Bernie went to Puppy Heaven, I made a point to save a few things of hers, one of those things being a doggie bone (like a Milk Bone type) from her last box of treats. I also left her food bowls in their right place, and in fact they remain so today. Anyway, I had put the sentimental Bernie bone in Bernie's bowl, which was upstairs in my room. Wallace, of course, had found it. And eaten it.

That was okay with me. Dogs are so trusting, honest, and loyal that it is hard to ever really get mad at them, and I certainly wasn't mad with Wallace. That incident pretty much served as the icebreaker for me and Wallace, friends we were indeed.

This winter, I watched Wallace and his Shar-Pei "sister", Sophie, for a long weekend, and that came at a time when I sorely needed some doggie love and unbridled enthusiasm that only canines can provide. Shar-Peis are rather muscular, and I would never take that build as belonging to an super-agile creature. That weekend, though, I realized how swift and graceful they are. They galloped and played over and through the mounds of snow in my yard, then of course ate, then slept for like nine hours, then started it all over again. It's a dog's life.

I also of course noticed differences between the two dogs. Wallace is very calm, methodical, and warm, where Sophie is a bit of an OCD spaz, and a bit aloof. They are both great dogs, but Wallace is the one you look toward for a little lovin' and Sophie's the one you look for when you are in the mood to play some, let's chase the doggie!

This summer, I watched the two for a week, so I really got to know them well. As I've mentioned, I live on a corner, and in the warmer months my side sidewalk serves as a bit of a doggie freeway, where people walk there dogs past, one after another after another. Sophie and Wallace would have a smashing time out there, eyeing the squirrels, dogs, and people. It was always easy to get Wallace to come back inside. Sophie, however, has a mind of her own. Sophie operates on Sophie time.

The first two nights of their summer visit, Sophie slept on the floor, Wallace on the bed with me. If you've ever picked up a bag of concrete mix--just a big, dense bag of solid weight--you have picked up Wallace, though I never actually picked him up. If you've ever slept with a bag of concrete mix on your legs, then you know what it is like to sleep with Wallace. From moment one, he is tucked against your legs, and he is there when you wake up. Your legs do not move throughout the night. Sophie, after the first couple nights, joined us on the bed for sleep, but she'd pick a faraway corner, Bernie style.

So about five weeks ago, I bid adios till next time to Wallace--I usually addressed him as Wally--and Sophie. I expected them back soon and looked forward to their next stay.

While I was on my vacation this month though, Julie text me and told me Wallace was sick, very sick. I do not handle bad news about dogs well, as they are the sweetest and most understanding creatures on the planet. They are everything that I wish all human beings were, but I digress. So Julie and I text back and forth, sadness puffing and wetting my eyes while she told me about Wallace's troubles and her struggles.

Over the next few weeks, I counseled Julie as best I could as to how to handle what is absolutely one of the hardest things ever to handle. They knew it would not be long, and they wanted to do what was best for Wallace. It is an incredibly difficult situation to be in, as you feel like you have been asked to play god with a life, and it is a life who you truly adore. The reality is though, you do what's best for your dog, even if it makes you feel like crap. In the long run, doing best by them is what will help you accept the everlasting goodbye.

Wallace passed away this past week, peacefully and with his mom and dad, Julie and Chris, by his side. After Wallace and Sophie left my house after their last stay, I washed my top blanket, which was covered with their fur. As I type this now though, some remains on the very blanket I am laying on. The hair that remains is a gentle reminder of another wonderful dog that brought much joy to those who shared life with him. Dogs are people pleasers, and Wallace was an A+ student in the art of pleasing.

Rest in peace, Wally. You are missed. I am certain you and my beloved Bernie (and Poochie and Frosty and Lassie) became fast friends in the greatest place ever for fine doggie souls such as your own, Puppy Heaven. May you all share many runs, walks, naps, and big bowls of food together. Just don't try to eat Bernie's bone up there, she might bite :).

Much love to you, Wallace, much love.

Life on the Road

***My sweet new ride and I bonded much over the past two weeks--more than 3,000 ass-on-seat miles, to be semi exact.***

Well, well, I'm finally back in St. Paul--finally only in the sense that I was gone for quite some time.

So let's see, I drove through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas on the way down to my ultimate destination of Rockport, Texas. On the way back, I went up through Texas and Oklahoma, then through Kansas and into and out of Nebraska, then across and up Iowa back into my current home state of Minnesota. Some facts from my journey:

• It did not rain one drop while I drove.
• During my return trip, the temperature (according to my car) was 110+ for approximately ten hours.
• I slept on one couch and in four beds.
• I learned that if you take two courses of antibiotics, you should take probiotics along with them.
• I saw some homies in St. Lou.
• I watched my cousin Monica get married in Lamar, Missouri.
• I went through Toby Keith's hometown. (I know, I don't care either.)
• I went through Waco, Norman, and Lincoln--all Big 12 towns.
• I was in Nebraska for the first time in my life.
• I was in Norman, Oklahoma for the first time. If only Jamelle Holieway was still OU's quarterback.
• I wept openly when I drove into Kansas, home state of my beloved alma mater KU. Yes, "wept openly" is a bit of a stretch, but it was nice to see Jayhawks speckled across the landscape.
• I determined that Kansas is the cleanest state in the union, all things considered--scenery, road conditions, lack of trash and crap. Actually, the drive south to north through Kansas was gorgeous. Surprised the hell out of me!
• I spent a night not far from KU, in Salina, Kansas. You have not lived until you've slept in Salina, Kansas folks.
• I learned that I-35 south of Dallas is just gnarly. Avoid it, both directions, any time.
• I had a lovely visit with my parents, in Rockport, and swam all night and day.
• I saw the world's largest porch swing. Actually, I didn't really see it--I saw a sign for it, somewhere in Nebraska.
• I was in 90-degree+ weather all of the 12 days and loved every second of it.
• I sang a ton. A TON!
• My Aunt Beverly said, upon seeing a few gray hairs on my head, that I must have bleached my hair, 'cause I'm not old enough to have gray hair. She was very, very serious.
• I spent time with both of my lovely grandmothers.
• And last on this list, and somewhat somberly, I drove through Joplin, Missouri to check out the tornado damage. Unbelievable. Here are a couple low-quality pics I took.

To leave on a happier note, we have had wonderful rain this season here in St. Paul, and I came home to lots of pretty flowers in my yard. All of this stuff I planted over the years, lots of it from seed. So I leave you with a few pics of those, though the quality again sucks--it's so hot and muggy here, so my lens kept fogging up. Tomorrow, I am the fog as I melt on my bike ride to and fro' work.

That's all I got, peeps.