Week 3

Well, we’re 3/7ths of the way into week 3 of 2012… already, I’m falling behind on my pledge to post three times a week.  In fact, had not a great friend, the marvelous creator of the Jesus In Love books, and her blog, Jesus In Love, written me an email and mentioned my pledge in it, I probably would have forgotten my promise!  Thank you, Kitt, for your reminder!  You saved my bacon.

So, over the last week, you learned about Ixchel, our mini dachshund. Today, as I was looking at some financial reports, I discovered that in the first 3 months we have had her, Scott and I kinda sorta went a little bit overboard! Counting vet visits for inoculations, two six week trailing classes, and toys, and beds, and doggy clothes, we’ve spent over a grand! Oops.

I also regaled you with the story of Savannah and Travis, and with our first pet.

Now, I don’t recall if I’ve ever shared with you the “Guardian” story about Travis & Savannah. If I have, it has been over a week, which means I’ve forgotten. Forgotten that I’ve told the story… I can, oddly enough, recall the story.

But you have to ask me to tell it.

Okay, if you insist! You don’t have to twist my arm, friend!

From 1998 until August 1999, we lived in an old 120 year old house over on 10th St & 5th Avenue, here in Council Bluffs. It was to this home that we brought 8 week old puppies that we named Savannah & Travis. Scott and I lived on the 2nd floor with Travis, and Pam & Gary lived on the first floor with Savannah. Gary frequently was out at night, and Scott and I kept busy with Church functions in the evening, so Pam often found herself home alone with the puppies. And, those puppies grew up.

Now, this first floor that Pam and the pups were on was at a level that a person of average height could walk up to the window, and look in. The windows were low, so such a peeping tom would be at about jaw level to a German Shepherd dog of 8 or 9 months.

Pam’s bedroom was just off the dining room, a room with bay windows. Pam would sit on a little stool just inside her door and watch TV. She liked having the lights off.

On this night in April, Scott and I came home, ate dinner with Pam, then left to go to some church function. And now I switch into the “voice” of Pam who related the story when we got home.

“Shortly after you boys left, I noticed you had left the dining room windows open. I thought about closing them but decided not to, even though it was a little chilly.

“I noticed that Savannah was sitting very close to my leg, but wouldn’t lie down as she normally would. Travis was pacing back and forth, walking around the perimeter of the dining room, and stopping on each circuit to look out the window facing the street.

“After making a couple of transits he came over and sat down right beside Savannah, with his back up against me.

“Savannah stood up and began the same prowling motion, stopping to look out the window. After several circuits, she sat down, and Travis resumed his pacing.

“This pattern continued for about 15 minutes. By this time, I was getting nervous but was fascinated by their behavior.

“Travis, who was currently making his rounds dropped to his belly about 10 feet from the front facing window. Savannah got down and belly crawled like dogs do when they’re stalking, and went and joined Travis. Now I was really scared!

“Suddenly a face appeared in the window, and simultaneously, Travis and Savannah launched themselves at the window, barking, growling, snarling ferociously! That man screamed so loud and so high his… [this part has to be edited] lets just say he sounded like a castrati! [end edit].

“I could hear him running for what seemed like minutes!”

I never got to see that kind of behavior, though Pam said it happened almost exactly the same a year later at our new (current) home.

We never worried during those days!