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Zach, Bailey, Hootie, Guinness and Me..

Posted on 03. Jan, 2007 by Derrick.

For those that don’t know me, I’m a reader. I read before I go to bed and on most weekends. I read action packed, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Wilber Smith esque books. Lately I’ve tried to be progressive with my reading. Never to be a provincial individual, I’ve been taking advice from my girlfriend on reading material.

Several months back, she gave me the novel “I Know this Much is True” by Wally Lamb. I trudged through it like a death row inmate on his way to his last meal. 900+ pages of drivel that I could have summed up in 50. Oprah may have made this book a book club book, but I made this a 3lb door stop.

Needless to say, when Summer gave me the book “Marley and Me” by John Grogan, I groaned. I thought to myself “at least this book is only 300 pages”. Quickly and tactfully, I forgot about the book by picking up the new Robert Ludlum novel.

I could see in her eyes, all the while I was reading my fantastically fast pace book, she was ready to pounce. Right after finishing, she demanded with certainty of a potential break up that I was to read “Marley and Me” post-haste. I abhor bad books, and was dreading having to spend Christmas weekend reading another one.

I was dead wrong. This book is a wonderfully lighthearted and heartwarming novel. Grogan’s wit and sense of humor fits well with my sunny disposition, and I couldn’t put the book down. Without a doubt, Grogan weaves a unique blend of optimistic sarcasm with a sense of blind hopefulness. In other words, I’d like to have a pint of Guinness with the man.

Grogan tells a simple story of one mans life, and his family’s adventures with an incorrigible Labrador retriever, and is an unvarnished look at the joys and problems of sharing your life with a dog.

Summer made this book enjoyable by making me read out loud the sections that made me laugh. We sat in bed and reminisced about our past dogs, and reminded ourselves of the work we had to look forward to with our current 5 month old puppy. It only happens once in many moons that a book becomes a topic of discussion in my house, and this became one. I’ve since made “Marley and Me” one of my top 10 all time favorite books and hope to read more from John Grogan. I highly recommend anyone who has a dog to pick this up. If you don’t like it on my recommendation, I’ll buy you a pint.

In lue of the good book, I wanted to share with you guys the dogs I’ve had.

This is Zach, my first dog. My family got him in 93. This picture was taken in 99 in my mothers back yard. He now lives in Germany(so I hope)

Next is Bailey, the ever lovable blond lab that my parents got in 96. Bailey’s original name was going to be Dr Dippy Pants, but my endearing stepmother wouldn’t let my Dad and I name him that. Bailey coined the term “maniac mode” which is still used in my house today. (he promptly went into “maniac mode” soon after I took this picture, I have proof) Bailey is now in Tennessee and about to retire with his younger sister Berk.

Hootie was my adopt-a-pet. I assumed ownership of Hootie when I moved in with a girl in 99. He is what most reminds me of Marley from the book. He was an abominable snow man on Miami Beach. Half pit, half lab, Hootie never quite understood what he wanted to be. What I decided he was; was 2 parts swiffer sweeper, 1 part toilet bowl cleaner, 3 parts bra picker upper, 2 parts piggy bank, and 100% love. I could write my own novel about the quirky, scary, and lovable times I spent with that dog. From the time I was close to calling it quits and putting him to sleep, to the last day I ever saw him. I truly miss him with all my heart.

Last but not least, I got Guinness 4 months ago. He cannot replace Hootie, but he has become a grand source of entertainment for me. Armed with the experiences of the past dogs, Guinness has become the most remarkably mentally stable dog that I’ve had. With exception to his room clearing flatulence (yes he just dropped a bomb) I have yet to find a glaring flaw with this dog. I’ve had to change my wild free wielding life to accomidate this little 50lb poop maker, but when I look at him in the mornings, and he wiggles his whole body just to see me, every sacrifice is worth it.

One thing I’ve leaned from my dogs is how to love fiercely and give freely. If you don’t have a dog, get one. If you have a dog, cherish them, I know I have.

- D

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