Lady 

My Childhood Companion

By Paula Moore

            Almost all young children dream of the day when the begging will end and they will hear the words, “Okay, we can get a family dog”! I remember the day that I heard these words from my father’s mouth like it was yesterday! I was five and my kindergarten year had just come to an end. We were about to embark on another hot summer, which would include the occasional trip to the community swimming pool. I was looking forward to the weeks off, but I had no idea what other adventures would be coming my way!

            One Sunday after church my father told us that we could go pick out our puppy from a lady’s house who was giving them away. On the way there I remember finding it hard to stay in the seat! Our trip was filled with everyone in the family listing off the possible names for our soon to be new family member. When we arrived at the house I raced my two sisters to the box of puppies and of course was lost in amazement as I set my eyes on the best box of puppies I’d ever seen. They were all dark black and brown and jumping around with excitement as all our large hands dove in at them. After a few minutes my dad noticed a puppy sleeping in the back of the box, I hadn’t even realized she was there. My dad quickly vocalized that we would take the quiet and calm puppy in the back. As we took her home we decided on the name Lady because she was sleeping so calm like a little lady would. However, what we quickly realized when she was rested from her nap is that there was a reason Lady had been sleeping! She was exhausted from her ability to go 100 miles an hour while awake!

            The rest of the summer was filled with lots of fun memories. We gave her baths, took her for walks, played with dog toys, ran together through the sprinkler and even fought over who she would sleep with each night. Of course the memories of cleaning up dog poop and training her not to bite people or furniture aren’t as quickly recalled as other memories! Over the course of the summer Lady and I developed quite a bond together. My sisters were twins and had always had a connection together, Lady was my new connection. My true companion!

            Lady and I went through many transitions together in life. The first was when we returned to school that year and she had to learn to be alone throughout the day. This was hard for her, but she was so overjoyed when we would return home. She learned about cars when I was 9 and she was hit by one in our street. She became our three-legged dog for a few months while her leg healed. She was with me through the destruction of many pairs of glasses, one contact lens, many library books, multiple chap sticks, Christmas tree ornaments, countless shoes, and on and on! Lady watched me from the window as I learned how to drive, kissed my first boyfriend on our front porch, and as I drove away to college. She was my faithful companion still even as our time spent together was shorter and shorter.

            When I was a senior in college Lady was put to sleep due to severe illness. She was in my life for 16 years! Lady was an influential part of me that I will always remember, she was always there when I called and didn’t know how not to lovingly respond to me! I hope one day I will be willing to sacrifice enough as a parent to let my children have a dog.  It’s my hope that my children will be able to experience this unconditional companionship like I was fortunate enough to experience!