Jen, I love that they don’t forget. Chewie was a pee-er too, she hit my brother’s friend every time he came to the house. She loved him. I am very thankful that Barney’s greeting, while boisterous, is much more sanitary. Styx sounds awesome, thanks for sharing your story Jen.

Styx and I were inseparable, as you can imagine, until the real day came that my folks took her to Israel with them and I stayed behind. I don’t remember leaving the airport, I was so traumatized by having to drug my dog and know she was going to be thousands of miles from me.

A year or two later, I flew to Israel to spend the summer working on an ambulance in Jerusalem. Back then, the airport had a long walkway just outside the customs area where your loved ones stood along a barrier to catch a glimpse of you.

Knowing my folks had brought Styx to the airport to meet me, I let out a whistle, OUR whistle, to hail her through the crowd. At the top of the walkway was my father, crouched, waiting to release the hound. She heard my call, he let her go and she gravy-trained it down the concrete to me. She wiggled like a rattler the whole way. When she heard me call her name at my feet, she peed.

All over.

I was so flattered.

She spent that whole summer glued to my side. We got fleas together. We wrassled together. We talked for hours, as she was part shepherd and could jabber a blue streak…

Cherish your memories of Chewie as I do mine of Styx. Its what makes you able to love Barney, and me to love Ellie.

I do have a story. We once had a dog named Moe. My dad found him abandoned somewhere and he was a little goofy and “off” (which is why we called him Moe), but very lovable. One day he was gone. We had no idea what had happened to him. Months later I arrived home from school and he was in the backyard, jumping up on the fence, as if he was trying to get out. I was so excited! He was scratched and a bit roughed up in general. I recall crying (happy and worried about him…was he okay?) and bringing him in the house, trying to keep him still long enough to clean up his cuts with cotton balls and peroxide. I’m sure it was comical. We never found out where he’d been or how he got back into the yard. The secret lives of our pets…

Possum wasn’t bothered, she was very tolerant and utterly charming.

Griffin, I laughed out loud at the mention of a bonnet and stroller. I used to do the same thing to my mutt Mugzy, even entered her in a costume contest. We lost. I think they could read the irritation on Mugzy’s face.

I miss them all, so I understand how you miss Chewie. I love the thought of him with his face in hot cider!! Manfred was caught on a work surface with his face in a plate of chicken slices!!!