My husband and I bit the bullet. \u00a0For years we talked about getting a dog. \u00a0Everyone who had a dog said they are wonderful. \u00a0And they also said they are a lot of work. \u00a0We are finding out what an understatement that is. \u00a0Her name is Nellie and she’s a yellow lab, 11 weeks old. \u00a0Whew! \u00a0Does she have energy. \u00a0And did I mention that we are 75 years old?<\/p>\n
The very first night, even though she didn’t cry when we crated her, we had a touch of buyers’ remorse. \u00a0Our lives had suddenly changed. \u00a0We think for the good. \u00a0We think. \u00a0But with the first small “accident,” we sighed and said, “What were we thinking?” \u00a0And after the second and third accident, the remorse set in a bit more. \u00a0However, lucky for Nellie, she is adorable, smart, and is already fetching the toys we pitch in the yard. \u00a0I am happy to say, “She’s a keeper. \u00a0Even with all the work, she’s a keeper.”<\/p>\n
My husband usually has a big project in his life. \u00a0His most recent one, a full-scale airplane, was completed last fall. \u00a0He sold it to a friend and held off getting another major project underway. \u00a0The plane had been a long, 7 years. \u00a0He has decided Nellie is the next project, and one who “pays back” lots of joy. \u00a0What a sight to see the two of them together. \u00a0Nellie follows his every step. \u00a0She races after the toys, aiming to please even though only 11 weeks old.<\/p>\n
Did I mention that she’s not yet housebroken? \u00a0We both are on “yard duty” multiple times daily. \u00a0Puppies pee a lot, and she hasn’t learned to whine, indicating she needs to go out. \u00a0It’s our job to anticipate her need, and it seems to be every half hour. \u00a0Every half hour<\/strong>. \u00a0We are getting a lot of exercise. \u00a0 Nearly as much as Nellie.<\/p>\n It’s a spiritual commitment we have made. \u00a0I never had children and having Nellie is offering me a taste of what I missed so many years ago. \u00a0I am thrilled, really, but just like a new mom, I’m not always sure of my steps. \u00a0Is saying no in a gruff voice helpful? \u00a0Is pushing her mouth off me the right approach? \u00a0I have paper-thin skin, inherited from my mother, and she has managed to give me a few scratches. \u00a0But only a few. \u00a0We are both learning.<\/p>\n She is a joy, however. \u00a0We both are convinced we did make a good decision. \u00a0And we both know there will be times we ask ourselves, “What were we thinking?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My husband and I bit the bullet. \u00a0For years we talked about getting a dog. \u00a0Everyone who had a dog said they are wonderful. \u00a0And they also said they are a lot of work. \u00a0We are finding out what an understatement that is. \u00a0Her name is Nellie and she’s a yellow lab, 11 weeks old. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-karens-musings"],"yoast_head":"\n