Giving Rose Kisses

Blogging Friends.... This is a post which I wrote during some mood swing-infused pity parties awhile back. I never thought I'd type--or say!!--these words. Thank-you, unwelcome mood swings!! Because, currently? I have found that I'm not in the mood to write stories about Rose!! No. I want to create fictional children's stories. Compose a poem. I want to write about me. My life has become a never-ending roller coaster ride of conflicting feelings/emotions, with soul searching and personal growth along the journey....

 

Oh!! I keep forgetting to mention this. But I am an Aunt again!! My brother and sister-in-law brought into this world a beautiful baby girl last month, Little Munchkin's sister!! 

    

Second chances. As I have most likely mentioned before, I'm a firm, strong, vehement believer in them. Heaven knows that with every one of my sins, faults and character defects, I have been granted more second chances than can ever be counted. Even Rose has allowed me some, as I walk around blindly attempting to be her best Mama. Yet I still make mistakes. Connected to forgiveness, second chances are, I think, as sweet as creamy milk chocolate. Mmmm. When you rescue an adult canine, you're adopting what I like to call "a Second Chance Dog". Translated. He has a past!! And very few people--not even the shelter where you adopted her--is educated on your new dog's history. Does she get along with other canines? They haven't a clue. Was he abused? They haven't a clue. Does she like children? They haven't a clue. Was he neglected at one point in his life? They haven't a clue. See. There is a certain unsolved mystery which arrives with adopting adult canines that even the great Sherlock Holmes couldn't crack. And personally? That is just the way I like it!! Because seriously. I love the thrill of "getting to know" my Second Chance Dog{s}!! Plus, adult canines are--usually!!--mild-mannered. Although. More often than not, as you solve the mystery that is your Second Chance Dog, you'll crack previous owners' mistakes. We are only human, after all. My first canine, Shadow, a beautiful "blond"-furred German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross, was aggressive toward her own species. Especially certain canines, such as Sarge, this sweet-natured, well-behaved Pit Bull. Oh, she hated his very guts!! Shadow would spy some canine--any canine--then growl, bark and lunge as though somebody had trained her in dog fighting rinks. It was that bad. We got Shadow at age three, and never did solve that mystery. Was she abused sometime in her past? We hadn't a clue. Was she not completely socialized during her primitive years? We hadn't a clue. Was she taken away from her mother prematurely? {Later my research revealed that when puppies are given up for adoption before nature says they should, then these canines do not know how to socialize with their own kind.} We hadn't a clue. The only mysteries which I could crack were these. Shadow was incorrigible. She possessed some dominance aggression. No dog training book would change her behavior. The only thing I could provide for Shadow? Lots of love and acceptance. Fast forward. To September 2010. Shadow had been gone since June 15th, and I was more than ready for another canine to call my own. You know what? I seriously considered adopting a puppy--to start afresh--as I'd promised myself so many times while dealing with Shadow's aggressive behavior problems that this would be my plan. But then I fell in love with Rose--age three--her past an equal unsolved mystery. And I'm eternally grateful that I did!! We dealt with separation anxiety issues, and accidents. Rose hated her kennel so badly that she tore a dog pillow to cotton fluff. Really. She does not know how to interactively play with me like most canines do. And Rose seems a bit clingy, like I do not provide her with enough attention, which is absolutely untrue. Let the mystery solving begin, as I crack the code that is Rose!! Does she get along with other canines? Was Rose abused? Does she like children? Was Rose neglected at one point in her life? Only time and a keen observation which could shame Sherlock Holmes would tell!! Now. Does Rose get along with other canines? Like a champ!! Now. Was Rose abused? Not physically. But does yelling and verbal abuse count? Because Rose slinks away, head lowered, tail tucked behind her hind legs whenever anybody raises their voices. Now. Was Rose neglected at one point in her life? Well, not dropped off alongside some highway. But there is also such a thing as negligence. And, I strongly believe that Rose's former owners--whoever they are--did not provide her with enough attention. Then she ran away. And respectable dog catchers brought her to our local shelter!! Now. Does Rose like children? Yes!! This has been answered time and time again!! She is so very good with my niece, Little Munchkin, who loves canines!! I own this soft-haired plush Beagle, which was purchased for memory's sake. However. It is a stuffed animal, after all!! And, as Woody--voiced by Tom Hanks!!--has said in the "Toy Story" animated films. {Who, I am going to misquote!! Sorry, Tom Hanks!! Curse my premature short-term memory loss!!} "A toy is meant to be played with". So. I always pull my soft-haired plush Beagle down from his high shelf for Little Munchkin to cuddle, and play with. And. She always smiles when I do this!! Also. We will tie Rose's spare red leash around its neck, and she'll "walk" the Beagle, dragging my stuffed animal against our floors. This looks pretty funny!! My stuffed animal actually has twain names, plus dual genders. To Little Munchkin, her name is Rose. However. To my ten-year old cousin, his name is Linus from "Peanuts"!! One day, the living, breathing Rose's ebony nostrils were sniffing my plush Beagle. Not stealing it. Just sniffing. Little Munchkin saw this, and, being the boss that she is, scolded Rose, then snatched my Beagle away!! To which Rose just looked confused, as though thinking this. What did I do? I stroked my little girl's velvet-soft fur, and praised her. Good girl.... Then, on another day, Little Munchkin was holding the Beagle. I asked her this. "Can you give Rose a kiss?". I meant the stuffed animal. But there was a slight miscommunication going on!! Because Little Munchkin thought I meant the real Rose!! So, she walked over to my mutt, bent down, and kissed her....