JanBeek

Just look at that face!
Doesn’t he look innocent?

Guess again!
That “Ducky” used to have a head!

First to go
at the expert chewing
of our destructive pup
was the beak…
then the whole head!

And next,
the wings had to come off,
and all the stuffing
out of the body!

So, I cut the limp body
off of the rope,
and as you can see,
he loves his rope!

We’ve had Boston Terriers
all of our married life,
62 years worth,
with about six different pups
in those six decades.
But none was as destructive
as this guy!!

See that collar on him?
It is to prevent him from
pulling the stitches out
from the surgery he had
last Monday.

Suppose getting him neutered
will calm him down?
We hope so!!

He really is a sweetheart…
when he’s asleep!
But he is such a live wire
when he’s awake…
Always into something!
Will not sit still in Bob’s arms
to have his toenails trimmed
the way our last Boston, TazE, did!

But, Owen’s just 10 months old today…
and so he is still learning,
still a puppy.
Give him time, huh?
Owen is destined to be an angel…

We just pray that he
makes that transition
while he is still here on earth.
Right?

My mom loved poetry
and she saved those she
liked the most when she saw them
in the newspaper back in the 1930’s.
I have the cardboard on which
she taped her favorites.

It’s inside my kitchen cabinet door.
So faded you can just barely read it.
The date says 1936!
One of my favorites of that collection is:

My dog is a nuisance, an absolute pest,
With him in the house there is truly no rest.
He leaves dirty tracks on the mirror-bright floor,
And scratches the paint from the tidy front door.

He slobbers his water and spills half his food;
The rugs are all gnawed and the slippers are chewed.
He sheds tufts of hair and he scatters his fleas;
He buries his bones under bushes and trees.

He keeps me awake every night with his yaps;
The neighbors all cuss him for spoiling their naps.
I’ll stand it no longer. I’m getting fed up.
I won’t be a slave for that bothersome pup.

Er, pardon, excuse me – but what did you say?
You ask if I’m giving my puppy away?
You’ve the nerve to suggest that you’ll take him with pleasure.
Well, certainly not – he’s an absolute treasure!

…Margaret Macprang MacKay, poet

Here’s mom… with my dad … back in 1936
At the time she collected those poems,
Before my sister and I were born.
Aren’t I the lucky one? To have such parents?

Thank you, Mom, for your love of poetry
And your love of dogs, and your tolerance.
Er, pardon, excuse me, but what did you say?
You ask if I’m giving my Owen away?

Well, certainly not!
I’ll keep him with pleasure.
He’s an absolute treasure!!

Hah!

Love,
JanBeek