November 09, 2006

Chaos

The introduction of Scout into my household has changed my life, and I would be hiding the truth if I said it was entirely for the better. Adding a second dog isn't as seamless as some would have you believe, especially when the second dog is much younger than the first, and it's a dog whose backstory is wholly unknown.

When you add in the fact that Montego's personality has changed since the Attack of '06, it makes things pretty interesting around my house. I've noticed that Tego is slower, less patient and more likely to want to be all up in my lap as soon as I sit down. Scout isn't ready to settle in for at least two hours or so after I get home, so it's challenging, accounting for both their needs and energy levels.

That said, I wouldn't change it.

Scout is entertaining and funny and sweet. There is nothing - nothing - funnier than watching a puppy run full tilt across hardwood floors, with no way of stopping. Yet she runs, every time. Montego was never one for the dog park and I certainly wouldn't subject her to that environment now, but Scout loves it there. She climbs up on boulders and strangers' laps and outruns even the biggest, fastest dogs. I hear people make comments about her, like what a cool dog she is or how cute she is or guessing her breed. People walk across the park to ask me about her and I always just shrug and say I found her on my porch and that their guess is as good as mine. Our wonderful vet, Dr. Drane, agreed with me that she is likely a border collie mix, but whatever she is, she is "100% cute." And perhaps it's pathetic or sad the pride I feel when I hear those kinds of comments. Perhaps my involvement in this baby dog is a mark of Spinsterhood, I don't know. It probably is.

But I love her like crazy and my life feels full - too full sometimes - and when I look at Montego and realize that she has been by my side since I was a fresh 22, it amazes me. She probably won't be around to see me turn 40, but Scout will. And that fact threads us all together, this little hapshod family of mine.

You're either a dog person or you aren't, and never the twain shall meet. Their presence weeds out the non-dog suitors from my life and my mom is terrified that I'll end up with a man with one or two dogs of his own already, and I have to laugh when she worries about that, because all I can think is - I sure as heck hope so.

Posted by hannah at 05:50 PM