Pinehurst, NC. I was eleven. Hildy was our dachshund. Hildy
was a bit older than I was. There are pictures of her as a
sleek young animal instead of our fat old dog, checking me
out when I was first brought home as a baby.
This hot day I became aware of her physical age and handicaps as
one of that breed raised not for speed but to dig. Short
legs, long back (prone to problems). We walked too far for
her. I don't remember if she just refused to go on at some
point or what, but I ended up carrying her home. I remember
being out this sandy road, in the heat, carrying her. She
seemed huge, and I felt quite burdened, but I was the one
who had made us walk so far.
Another NC dog memory- there was this yellow gold mixed breed
dog that started hanging around our house. My Dad and I both
loved this dog, and started leaving out water and food.
After a couple of weeks it stopped coming around, though.
One day a couple of months later I rode down this driveway on my
bike that connects two streets, and there were these
puppies, looking a lot like that dog. I saw the lady who
lived there, and at her side was our friend the stray. She
had adopted the dog, and it had puppies. I don't know if my
Dad knew it was pregnant. I don't think so. But maybe its
impending maternity made it look for humans to take care of
it, rather than roam with the packs of dogs that were common
in North Carolina at the time. Anyway, it touched me that
this dog had found a home, and had its puppies in a good,
safe place.
----------
Chamber
go to Tom's home page Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
Index of Other Writing