By Suzanne Mooney
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If you have not yet read Marley & Me by John Grogan, I would highly recommend that you do so. Whether you share your life with a yellow lab, like Grogan, or whether you share your life with a cat, horse, bird or other animal, I am sure you will be able to relate to the stories Grogan shares. Each pet is different and each pet gives us our own funny, heartwarming, crazy stories to share with other animal lovers. Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you look at it, my boyfriend and I can relate to Grogan’s Marley story all too well. Rick and I adopted Baci from the Inland Valley Humane Society in July 2005. We knew we wanted a yellow lab and we chose Baci because of his calm, quiet demeanor. While all of the dogs surrounding him barked, Baci sat next to the fence quietly, calmly, patiently. When we first saw him, Baci still had six days left of his 10-day hold before he could be adopted. We went back to see him a few more times before we actually adopted him and we were confident in our choice. Each time we walked up to Baci’s kennel, there he was: looking at us with his big brown eyes and sitting there quietly, calmly, patiently. That, however, was not the Baci we brought home. The Baci we brought home barked incessantly when left alone in the backyard. The Baci we brought home liked to run into the house to pee and then run back outside to continue playing. The Baci we brought home liked to balance on two legs next to the washing machine, grab a mouthful of clean clothes and then bring those clothes outside and spread them around the backyard. The Baci we brought home also greeted us at the front door one evening when we knew that we had left him in the backyard upon going out. Silly us for having only closed the screen door and not the actual back door! At 85-pounds, Baci plowed through that screen like it wasn’t even there. |
As I read Marley & Me, I felt better and better about this crazy yellow lab with whom Rick and I have decided to share our lives. Baci’s antics are nothing compared to the stories Grogan tells about his yellow lab. There was the time Marley was expelled from obedience school. There was the time Marley tore through the drywall in the garage during a thunderstorm. There was the time Marley ate the eighteen-karate gold necklace that Grogan purchased for his wife’s birthday. As I read further and further into the book I found myself saying, “Yes!” and “Aha!” and “Exactly!” I kept thinking, “How could this author know my dog so well?” I won’t give away the ending of Marley & Me, because I really hope you will read it. What I will say, however, is that Grogan and his wife eventually realize just how lucky they are to have shared their lives with Marley; just as Rick and I have realized that with Baci. Yes, Baci tracked mud into the house today. Yes, Baci dumped over the kitchen trash can yesterday. But that is also the same Baci who growled to protect me a few months ago when a stranger approached my car window. That is the same Baci who lays his head in my lap when I am feeling down. That is the same Baci who falls asleep with me on the couch and snores so loud I can’t help but laugh. And that is the same Baci who wants nothing more in life than to be with either Rick or me 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Whatever type of animal you share your life with, I hope you appreciate the joy and entertainment and love that your own Marley brings to you each day. And, if you feel like sharing your stories with other animal lovers in San Dimas, I would love to hear from you. Please email me at sofar kosmos@hot mail.com For more information about Marley & Me visit www. marleyandme.com. |