Saturday, February 6, 2010

Adios Eddie.



Eddie has been our dog for almost 5 years. When we first got him, it was agreed that he was Trav's dog, and that all care, and love would be provided by Travis. Soon after we got Eddie, however, I realized that there was no way Trav could keep his word. He was working, and going to school, both full time, and was a Weekend Warrior for the National Guard. Begrudgingly, I took upon myself the chore of caring for Eddie, really because I had no other choice. We spent lots of time detesting each other, and waiting for Travis to come home and fill the gap between us. Later though, we just learned to understand each other, and maintain our distance while still living under the same roof. Eddie knew that if I got him out, I needed company, and that he could sit on the floor by my feet. I knew that if Eddie needed love..if only just for a minute, he would look at me, turn his head to the side, and wiggle his way into my lap. In so doing, it seems that Eddie also wiggled his way into my heart!


I have never been the most loving and caring owner for Eddie, and I have never kept that a secret. I feel guilty about it, but once Addison arrived, Eddie spent most of his days in the laundry room, starved for attention. My guilt finally got the better of me, and I talked to my husband, who has seemed only to get even busier as the years have passed. We made the tough, but right decision to place Eddie with a new family today. (I learned from Madi and Troy, and Adam and Jess in their adoption adventures that the correct term for adopting someone out is to place them.) We met his new family, and four cute boys today. He is going to a loving home, and they are excited to be getting him. He'll be getting a lot of attention now!

While I hated the hair Eddie shed, and the unpleasant memory Eddie and I shared of ingested pillow stuffing, resulting in a constipated, "stuffed" dog, and poo wrapped in batting for weeks on end, or the visits from various female visitors with higher pitched voices that always seemed to leave our house with a peed on leg, and a dog that jumped to the highest heights to escape from our yard only to chase the neighbor cat, or to chase the skunk that eventually took his revenge on Eddie, or just to annoy me, and run away.


I will miss the joy Eddie brought to Addison's face, the fact that I didn't need to vacuum after lunch time, because Eddie would take care of it for me, and my sweet husband insisting that Eddie needed to come on family camping trips, even though he smelled, and took up way too much room in the car. I guess I will just miss Eddie..and I have tear stained cheeks to prove it!

6 comments:

Iris said...

When I first started reading this, I thought Eddie died, and I was so sad. I'm happy to know that he is happy & alive. And, Natalie, I'm so happy you grew to love him because I love dogs!!! ..... well, I love nice dogs =) I hope you don't miss him too much, and I'm sure he's loving his new home as well.

Shani said...

I am glad that he will be going to a loving home! He is a cute dog!

Jolene said...

Sigh - sad how we cry over dogs we really don't like. Glad your house will be a hair free zone now!

Meghan said...

this post makes me sad. it hits all too close to home. we got keni the day i learned i was pregnant. if only i'd known there were 2 in there, i would have changed my mind. i've considered for 2 years finding her a better home with more time and who likes hair and drool more than i. please let me know how this transition goes. i fear ryan would never talk to me again. i hope you are all ok.

Nate and Alyssa said...

I am happy for you! I totally know that love/hate thing you have had going. I hope the family you "placed" him with won't bring him back in a week claiming he bite their kid. Lou is great but life would be so much easier without him sometimes!!

Scott and Nicole albertson said...

Oh sad! It's crazy how attached to them you get. I'm glad you found a nice home for him :)