Apparently, we thrive in chaos.
So, we brought home a then 9 -week-old Corgi. Her name is Winnie the Pooch- Winnie for short- because you know I had to fit my Disney pun in there somewhere. A tiny, tri colored fluffball with ears big enough to pick up satellite signals and legs so stubby they look like someone hit "shrink" in the wash.
And let me tell you, it's basically like bringing home a newborn baby. I know all about that. I did it five times. The sleepless nights, the constant trips outside (because accidents wait for no one), the "what is in your mouth?!" soundtrack on repeat. I swear I spend half of my day sprinting around like I'm in an Olympic sport called Catch That Puppy Before She Eats It. I think I'm going to develop a new game called "Where's Winnie" because I must utter that phrase no less than a hundred times per day.
Here's the kicker though...in roughly two weeks, we're doing it again. Yep, we're adding another puppy to the mix- a boy Jack Russell. Because why not double down on the madness, right? At this point, I figure sleep is overrated anyway.
We already have Merry Puppins, our seasoned 7 year-old Jack Russell who has seen it all. She's watching this whole circus unfold with the face of a kid who didn't exactly ask for another sibling in the house. I imagine her inner monologue goes something like: "Really? Another one? I just got you people trained AND I have to share my treats." At the end of the day though, she loves the new pup.
But there's something magical about new puppy energy. The pure joy, the snuggles, the way they wag their little tails (or nubs as we call them) wiggle like they're powered by joy alone. Sure, we will go through an extravagant amount of paper towels and cleaner right now, but the house also feels full of life, laughter, and the occasional shredded clothespin. We find ourselves saying "Indy would have loved this." This is the way Indy would have wanted it to be. His memory not heavy with sadness but remembering the joy he brought us.
So, if you are wondering how things are going in our house, picture this:
-A tiny corgi barking fiercely at her own reflection in the mirror.
-A dignified Jack Russell judging from the couch.
-Marching band music as the background soundtrack.
-Me, armed with an arsenal of coffee, dog treats, and a mop.
-And in two weeks, just when Winnie settles in, we'll hit reset and go for round two with our new puppy.
You know how I never ask for thoughts and prayers? I temporarily retract that.
