Marley & Me ~ Holiday Movie… :(
Took the kids to Marley & Me. Wow – this one really hit home. This movie tugged at me more than any movie I have ever seen.
My current pup, Lilly ~ almost two year-old golden lab/retriever mix ~ reminded me a lot of Marley. Just full of energy, loves to be mischievous, and loves to chew up things no matter how much exercise she gets. She also is one of the smartest & loving dogs I have ever known.
But, It’s not her that got me all teary eyed, it’s the dog she replaced. I got Dublin, dalmatian/springer spaniel mix, out of a cardboard box from a guy selling her for $45. She was the runt of the litter and the most loyal friend you could ever ask for. She moved from Madison, WI to Milwaukee, WI to Portland, OR with me. My longest relationship with anyone had been Dublin & she was a great friend & part of the family. She was truly phenomenal….In her prime she could jump five feet straight up, she could catch a Frisbee on the run, she was a great friend & a protector.
Having lived out in the rural farm lands of Wisconsin, I was accustomed to animals dying and I thought I was pretty tough. I’d tell people if Dublin died, I’d just get a new dog & name it Dublin ~ since it’s just a dog. Taking Dublin to the vet that last day was the hardest thing I ever had to do….I knew what was a head & dreaded it….My vet was great, he said this is a true success story. He had seen very few 17 year-old dogs & said she had a great healthy life. I cried all the way home. The kids & I held a ceremony & buried her in the backyard…
It took me awhile to want to get a new dog. I took more than a year to think about it seriously. There were two things I was sure of: 1. I did not want another puppy ~ I did not want to go through all that again; 2. I wanted to rescue a dog from a shelter. I guess one out of two isn’t so bad.
I went to the shelter to get a two year-old dog that needed a home & it had already been adopted. Then they brought out this really small puppy that was adopted the night before. When the family got home with her, they were met with news that their dad had lost his job. They needed to move & could not keep her. All I needed to do was see her & I knew she would be the new member of our family. Plus, her birthday was the same as my twin boys ~ coincidence??? She has been a handful, but a great addition to our family.
I’d have to say this movie really moved me. I really enjoyed the memories it brought back & was glad I saw it. Anyone who has ever loved a pet should see this movie.
One day this summer the kids had some craw-fish die & they placed them on Dublin’s burial stone to be with her ~ Lilly ate them!
