The great tail
As much as I tried to erase it from my memory, I still remember the wet kisses planted on my nose from my Shih Tzu dogs Wednesday, Sunday and Thursday.
Each mutt had its own distinct personality that seemingly matched its furry shade. My bitch Wednesday was blessed with a gray coat and a streak of bright white that ran down her neck to her chest.
Her lupine colors suited her quick hunting reflexes and yet gave her the ability to stealthily hide like a rug to catch rats. Sunday’s yellow color brought out her prissiness whenever she refused to drink stale water.
Thursday, on the other hand, was a mischievous dirt magnet who hid his deeds under his pitch black coat but was easily caught by his unbearable stench.
They have all gone to the Big Dog Bowl in the sky. I tried matching their antics with the virtual pet game Nintendogs, but the gameplay reminded me of the taxing doggy chores without the rewarding furry “thank you” brushes along your leg.
It was still too two-dimensional for me. So, I opted to read journalist John Grogan’s Marley and Me about living with his A.D.D. Labrador Marley, to fill my doggone days.
Heel The Love
Creamy white Marley, as the author recounts, was named after Bob Marley because he would do a reggae dance or what they have called the “Mambo Marley” whenever he had something secret stashed between his mighty incisors. He was not the world’s worst dog but as dumb and as destructive as any pooch. He would destroy anything and everything from throw pillows to slippers. He even ate the golden necklace of Grogan’s wife that later came out the other end still in one piece, literally turning crap into gold. Marley even starred in the movie The Last Home Run. After 13 years though of raising household hell, the great labrador passed away due to stomach twisting common to his breed.
As charming as I bet Marley would be in real life, it is the author’s wit that moves the tale nicely along. His expressions are lighthearted and have a sitcom quality not unlike the defunct Mad About You which was about a young couple and their golden retriever, or Ray Romano’s Everybody Loves Raymond. This is why I am skeptical about Marley and Me’s story being made into a feature film this Christmas starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Marley’s capers are amusing but not hilarious and best taken in doggie biscuit sizes like a mini-series sitcom or a television movie.
Before you pick up the book, don’t let the deceiving cute cover deceive you: the book is not a children’s book but should be rated PG or even PG-13 as it is also about the delicate details of the author’s family life. Thus, it deals with a young couple trying to have kids, a miscarriage, postpartum depression, raising a family and death. Anyone who gives this to a kid should be willing to answer a barrage of tough questions. Otherwise, it is best to just find the children’s book edition called Bad Dog, Marley!
Canis diem!
As rambunctious as our furry friends can get, there are many little infectious flea lessons that we can learn from them. For starters, they wear their hearts on their fur. They know how to roll with the punches and lick their wounds. They also give you their undivided attention such as scratching your door in the morning to affectionately biting your toe without warning. Unlike humans, they don’t stop to answer the phone while you are talking to them nor do they read the paper in front of you to stave off conversation boredom. I guess it comes from inherently knowing that they have less than 20 years on this patch of earth. Every day must be carpe diem or seize the day, or at least the couch. Every second counts for them as much as the fleas on their fur and that is why I miss my canine children so much. So, I have learned from toy dogs to change my motto from carpe diem to canis diem, meaning not just seize the day but the people around me as well.
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‘Marley and Me’ is available at National Book Store.
Website: http://www.marleyandme.com/
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Send me puppy love at readnow@supreme.ph.
