Marley and Me

I have been tagged by Laura who has a very interesting family-oriented blog called Adventures in Juggling. It seems it involves a book I am currently reading. Here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book. If you are currently reading something, that'll be fine too.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your Blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet I know that is what you were thinking!
6. Tag 5 people.

Okay. This particular game fits into what I was going to write about anyway. Here is the passage:

" 'John, I think the baby might be coming.'
I propped myself up on an elbow and rubbed my eyes. Jenny was lying on her side, knees pulled to her chest. "The baby what?' " (end of passage)

Two days ago, my wife called her dad and told him that she thinks that we are having an addition to our family. He nervously laughed, "Really? Anyone that I know?"

So many things must have invaded the poor man's head. Just two weeks ago he escorted his daughter over a footbridge on a Jamaican beach into my hands where he gave his blessing for our union. Now, he is trying to prepare his brain for grandfatherhood.

His daughter answered him, "No, it is a golden retriever." What a relief for him as they both shared a five-minute laugh.

The whole thing wasn't much of a laugh for me, though. I had just lost Griffey as you know if you read my Tuesday post. I really didn't want another dog. It is too painful to go through again. I knew after time, I would want to adopt another one, but not yet. Not while my little buddy bowed out just a couple of days before. However, this is how it happened.

Debi, a woman my wife works with, adopted the dog on Friday because the local pound was over-crowded and they were putting dogs down at a record rate. This golden's number was due even though he had only been there a couple of days. Her daughter volunteers there at the shelter and begged her mother to step in and save this dog because it was special. When Debi got the dog home, she was informed by her landlord that she couldn't have pets. This was a surprise because other tenants have them, but the policy just changed.

Knowing that my wife is a sucker for dogs and sob stories, Debi told her of this dog's plight. My wife responds, "Jeff LOVES golden retrievers!"

I do love golden retrievers. I had planned on getting one for over a year. However, this Griffey ordeal commanded that my heart wait. I wasn't looking for a replacement and I needed time to grieve. Ah, but the fates do not care. I couldn't save Griffey, but I may be able to save this dog.

My wife called me and said, "I have something I need to talk to you about." Wives, NEVER call your husband and say that. It seldom is a good thing.

I responded with, "Oh no." I had been through a lifetime of events in the past month and I wanted to cruise for a while.

She replied, "No, it is a good thing - I think." Well, you know the rest of the story. Debi named the dog "Marley" after the dog in the book because she recently finished reading it. My wife just finished it and LOVED the idea of "Marley" for a name. Now, I am currently reading the book and trying to get through it before next Thursday when John Grogan, the author, is coming to town to talk about it.

So, here's the fates or God showing the way for us to get this dog:

1. I have wanted to get a golden retriever for a while now.
2. I lost my dog and have an empty place in my heart right now.
3. This drops into our lap (with all the shots and checks from a vet for free - which is important since I just spent nearly a grand on Griffey's treatment.
4. The dog is named Marley based on the book that the three of us was reading.
5. The Marley in the book was named after Bob Marley, the most famous Jamaican (all we heard about in Jamaica was Bob Marley).
6. We started our life together in Jamaica and now we are starting our first co-sponsored dog named indirectly after this famous Jamaican.

The Marley in the book is a yellow lab, but Debi couldn't resist the name and the story. Plus, the resemblance is pretty good.

Marley, so far, has turned out to be exceptional. He is a big, beautiful sweetheart of a dog that I was slow to warm-up to. He doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body and although he has been left in the house alone, he hasn't made one mess or chewed on anything not designated a chew toy. His only fault is his love. He is just brutal with that big tongue of his.

Welcome to the family, Marley!


5 comments:

Tigger said...

Jeff~

I have been behind in my reading since I started working. I am so very sorry about Griffey.... I have lost pets and know how devistating it is. Marley is a beatiful dog. I am glad that you opened your heart. It is hard I know. But Marley will never take Griffey's place, your heart will have a special place for Marley as well. Thanks for all of your support with the new job. I have come to realize one thing. Working is for the birds!!! LOL.... Take care, Tawnya

DesLily said...

One animal never "replaces" another. But they do help fill the void left behind.
Marley is beautiful! It sounds like a good arrangement.. Marley needed to be saved and you have a void in your life. A good match I would say!

Sayre said...

Oh, JOY!!!! There is a reason for this dog - it is too perfect. Perhaps he was sent to let you know that Griffey is okay now and it's alright to move on.

The day after I put my beloved Tux cat down, my engineer brought me a 3-week old kitten that had been rejected by its mama. Yoda is now an integral part of my family - but I still miss Tux. Yoda just made missing Tux easier to bear.

We haven't gotten another dog yet. We don't really have a place to keep a dog right now (we moved right after Beryl died), but hope to get another soon. THAT hole is still there....

Congratulations on Marley - he's beautiful!

Anonymous said...

i so want to read this book!
marley is beautiful, i have to agree.
thanks for playing along, jeff.

Anonymous said...

(Jumping up and down) Oh please please tag me with this one, too!!!!