Now, my mom celebrated her birthday on the 8th, and being out in The Sticks, all I recall us having for lunch was turbo chicken - where all you do is probably marinate it with butter or something, put in the broiler, set the timer and leave it be till the bell rings, telling you it's done and fit to serve. Then later that evening, my brother, Mark came over and brought a cake. =)
However. It being Tiger who is a year older - we had steak for lunch. Not just *any* steak - my mom clarified and made sure I realized the import of this fact - we had Tenderloin Steak! None of that 'Breakfast Steak' to celebrate this special day. No way! =P
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| Steak & Soup Lunch (taken with a SonyW350i phone camera, not bad, eh?) |
This dog, like so many of the other pampered, loved and cared for pets out there - has most likely forgotten that he is not human. He probably believes he IS Human! He refuses to simply lay on the floor sometimes and will only sleep soundly if he is on a pillow or some mattress. Such a spoiled boy! Like Lassie (that wonder-dog of yore) he knows to let you know if he wants something - like remind you that his water dish needs to be refilled, or that you've probably forgotten to share your lunch with him. He has a way about him, a look - that you can almost *hear* him saying out loud - "Hellooooooooooooo...am I not in the room???" One time, i recall my dad telling of an instance when - he had turned off some of the room lights while Tiger was eating dinner. A few minutes later, he noticed, Tiger was standing in front of him, staring directly at him. (strange because at the age he is in, Tiger probably has very very poor eyesight!) But anyway, my dad gets up wondering what the matter was. He switched on the room lights, and almost immediately, Tiger again started to eat. Odd. Apparently, Tiger was thinking - Who in their right mind would expect ME to eat in the dark???? What do they think I am? a BAT??? GADS. There are countless conversations I have in my head of what Tiger might actually be thinking - many of them when my mom has it in her head to make him wear clothes - she even makes him wear a jacket, and if I remember correctly, as a Halloween costume, once got him these tiny gossamer wings and turned him into a fairy. Seriously.
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| Tiger wearing a beret. Yes. seriously. |
And oh, the rewards of that. For my mom, anyway - Tiger is devoted to her. Sits quietly at her lap and follows her every move as closely as a falcon its prey, or like a mother hen watches over its brood. It's so bad that he even sits and waits outside the door when she goes and takes a shower! When my mom had to leave for work in the South, and she didn't bring Tiger with her - he was listless and forlorn. I suggested she call and leave a message on the telephone answering machine, just so Tiger could hear her voice. I was worried that he hadn't been eating much since she'd left. I happened to be there when the call came in - and saw Tiger's reaction.
His ears perked up and he was spinning wildly to determine where my mom's voice was coming from. It was an amazing spectacle. I promised not to answer the phone so my mom really WAS calling for Tiger's benefit. When the call ended and it was properly assumed that she was NOT in the room, Tiger resumed his lonely post on his bed and commenced to sulk. No amount of calling or petting would really make him get up and make walking around worth his while. Needless to say - the next trip my mom took - she took Tiger with her. He can even tell when it is my mom, and not someone else who is nearby.
He has a strange aversion to my dad, and pointedly refuses to approach whenever it is my dad calling him - he would rather opt to head for under the table, or walk in the direction of where my mom is. When my dad manages to pick him up, you can see Tiger making a futile effort to make himself heavier (not easy when you're a Yorkie, mind you!) and this can be attested to by my dad. Or sometimes, he'll cast a begging look in my mom's direction as if to say: "Save Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" it's funny really.
I remember a time when even I am not spared from his condescension. I came home one time to be greeted at the door - and when he realized it wasn't my mom - he takes one snobbish snort, then promptly turned tail and walked away from me.. almost like saying: "Oh...It's just you." Insulted! By a DOG! Well, I never!!! hahahaha. That's Tiger for you.
However, when my mom comes home, that's a different story. When she gets home after an afternoon out - he hops and wriggles like a puppy about to be given a treat - I bet if he could jump out of his skin, he would, just for the sheer joy of knowing my mom has come home. Before she leaves, or if my mom and I have an errand to run that may take a while, i remind her to "explain" to Tiger that we're heading out, and that he can't go because he isn't allowed where we're going, or that he might get too tired (or bored) there.. yes, yes, we're a crazy lot. =P But that seems to alleviate the anxiety for Tiger, because if she does just leave with no prior explanation and is gone for a while - she can expect to come home to yips and yelps from Tiger as if to say: "Where the hell WERE you? and WHY DID YOU TAKE SO LOOOOOOONG?"
And now, Tiger is 14. That's a long time in dog years. Don't ask me to calculate how old that is in Human terms - but that's pretty old. He actually seems younger these days and remains staunchly devoted to my mother.
At least these days, my mom no longer nags or wonders if she's ever going to have grandchildren. =P Maybe she's finally given that thought up. *whew*
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| Tiger |
I have written this post, specifically at the behest of my mom. And as a gift to the "birthday boy"...Also because I'm sure I won't hear the end of it if I didn't.
;-) So! To everyone who loves their pets - May you enjoy many many more years of love and companionship! Mabuhay!!!
Ah doggies. Most of the time I find it difficult to leave the house because my dog has separation anxiety. I've been told that she cries for at least half an hour whenever I leave the house. When I get back, however, "almost jumping out of her skin" is a good way to describe how she greets me.
ReplyDeleteHi Babs, this is a very cute article. Thanks for sharing Tiger's story. My husband Lowen and I enjoyed reading it. He is surely loved. All the best from Bhae.
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