My mother's sister, Aunt Bert, sent me a letter in this card ten years ago. She loved dogs more than anyone I ever knew growing up, the names of whom I can still recall. Loving dogs was something that came easily to her, so much so that we felt her dogs were a part of the family. She always mentioned them in her letters from Seattle or Bainbridge Island or Port Townsend. Since the late 1990s, I have learned why it was so natural for her to do that.
just weeks old, Meek before she accepted our invitation
Meek's parents were the schnauzers of my good friends Bobby and LaNita, who lived in Gail twelve years ago. Their dogs had several litters. Ripken, Meek's older brother, was born in December of 1999. I brought him home to help heal a broken heart at the time, and it worked.
But Ripken needed someone for company, too, as I had to travel and be gone a lot for school activities. My girls were involved in their lives and soon to be leaving for college. So, six months later in another litter from the same parents was born the little lady that would be just for Ripken....his full blood baby sister. My daughters named her Meek, which was short for the three "meeks" who played for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols: Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, and Semeka Randall. If Ripken were going to be named after an athlete, so was Meek.
Bonding began immediately as Ripken seemed to sense his role as protector while Meek knew she was there to provide support, company, and someone to chase. I told you she was a lady.
They played together, figured out how to use the doggie door together, and learned to eat out of a self-feeding bowl without fighting. I could leave them overnight and rest assured that they had each other. And, on those occasions when I did have to be gone, they even learned to pout together....the suitcase would come out, and the two of them, in defiant solidarity, would turn their heads away from me when I tried to tell them good-bye.
Meek could be her own girl though. She was much more possessive of my time, making sure that when attention was given to Ripken, it had darn sure be given to her as well. My arm was pawed many a time as she insisted I scratch her ears, too.
Meek barked more. She ate more. But now that she's gone, I realize that the biggest difference came in where they each liked to settle with me. Unlike her brother, who still chooses to sit on the arm of the recliner beside me every night and watch television (must be a man thing), Meek would follow me to the office--the newly renovated space for quiet time, writing, and listening to music. And always under the table desk, at my feet......she would lie down and stay until the writing or schoolwork had ended.
I wish winter were not approaching. Until tonight, I had not noticed how warm and reassuring that little heartbeat at my feet had been.
with my daughter Emily this past Sunday
