Flashback to Prince.
It wasn't very bright in our basement apartment. It was the "nice" apartment in Ohio. I was out of college and we both worked at a software firm. We had access to a pool and a good supply of radon gas, but that's another story.
We kept the blinds pretty tight so the sun was barely streaming in when we got home. I wandered into the 2nd bedroom which was at the time my and Jamie's office. I got the phone. I remember it was a clear plastic phone that you could see the components of. I remember toying with the cord as I called my mom back.
She told me that my dog from when I was like in 7th grade had died. I completely fell apart. My mother described having to dig his grave in the red clay at the top of the hill where they lived in TN. I can remember that my face was completely wet with tears as we talked. I don't remember the specific words or exactly how it went. He had been sick and in pain for a while. I barely remember, but I think he died at home. He was 90lbs and I'm sure the digging was hard in that soil.
My parents have moved since to New Jersey so I doubt I'll ever stand on that spot again. I did visit it some so that's ok.
I remember the last time I saw him. He knew me right away. I played with the blue rubber ball with a bell in it about the size of a racket ball and as I bounced he "woke up" and my mother was amazed that he was playing with me. It was our last time together and he woke up and I'm sure despite his pain he played with me.
It was like he had lapped me. As a pup I took care of him and taught him. He loved me and feared me. When I would try to sneak in at night after hours he would bark but only a quick little one until he'd hear my hissing, "on your bricks!" from the other side of the door.
He was a barker. He wasn't much for new people, but when I said, "on your bricks" that was that. He'd run right to the hearth and lay down quiet until I called him. I hated his name. People would as me, "is your dog named Lassie?" A clever retort might have been, "No he has balls." I always replied the same, "His name is Prince, no relation." at that time Prince was the artist formerly known as "prince." It was hard on the dog.
He had lapped me. I looked at him and he was older than me. He wanted to play with me but could barely get up the steps and really hated going down them. I felt sad to see him that way, but happy he played. I'm happy now to think back on that day.
When I hung up the phone I was shocked at my own response being so heavy. I had known it was coming. Jesus he was an old dog for a dog that big. I don't remember how old, but it crushed me. I can remember seeing the light in the apartment... it was dim.
We kept the blinds pretty tight so the sun was barely streaming in when we got home. I wandered into the 2nd bedroom which was at the time my and Jamie's office. I got the phone. I remember it was a clear plastic phone that you could see the components of. I remember toying with the cord as I called my mom back.
She told me that my dog from when I was like in 7th grade had died. I completely fell apart. My mother described having to dig his grave in the red clay at the top of the hill where they lived in TN. I can remember that my face was completely wet with tears as we talked. I don't remember the specific words or exactly how it went. He had been sick and in pain for a while. I barely remember, but I think he died at home. He was 90lbs and I'm sure the digging was hard in that soil.
My parents have moved since to New Jersey so I doubt I'll ever stand on that spot again. I did visit it some so that's ok.
I remember the last time I saw him. He knew me right away. I played with the blue rubber ball with a bell in it about the size of a racket ball and as I bounced he "woke up" and my mother was amazed that he was playing with me. It was our last time together and he woke up and I'm sure despite his pain he played with me.
It was like he had lapped me. As a pup I took care of him and taught him. He loved me and feared me. When I would try to sneak in at night after hours he would bark but only a quick little one until he'd hear my hissing, "on your bricks!" from the other side of the door.
He was a barker. He wasn't much for new people, but when I said, "on your bricks" that was that. He'd run right to the hearth and lay down quiet until I called him. I hated his name. People would as me, "is your dog named Lassie?" A clever retort might have been, "No he has balls." I always replied the same, "His name is Prince, no relation." at that time Prince was the artist formerly known as "prince." It was hard on the dog.
He had lapped me. I looked at him and he was older than me. He wanted to play with me but could barely get up the steps and really hated going down them. I felt sad to see him that way, but happy he played. I'm happy now to think back on that day.
When I hung up the phone I was shocked at my own response being so heavy. I had known it was coming. Jesus he was an old dog for a dog that big. I don't remember how old, but it crushed me. I can remember seeing the light in the apartment... it was dim.
posted by J.R. at 11:41 AM
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