Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Family Pet (05/15/08)
-
TITLE: Spastic Photon | Previous Challenge Entry
By Annora Williams
05/18/08 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
When we were first starting out as a married couple, there were many late nights at work for my husband. He did not like the idea of me being by myself in our apartment. He came up with a solution. He decided that what I needed was a furry companion to protect me. Or at least keep me from being alone. So we went looking for a dog.
We found an energetic ball of fur at a local pet store. He stole our hearts from the beginning with his warm sensitive eyes and playful demeanor. He was a tri-color Shetland Sheepdog and after only a short discussion, he went home with us. We knew we had to come up with just the right name. Our new roommate was given the moniker Spastic Photon- Spaz for short. I know it seems a bit odd but his energy level provided the spastic part and my knowledge of science- and my warped sense of humor- added the photon part. (For readers who may not remember their chemistry lessons, photons are packages of high energy.)
Spaz was like our first child. We learned many things with his help- patience, discipline, preparedness, and responsibility. One thing we had not anticipated was the teething phase he would go through. By the time we had made it past this chewing fixation, we had replaced several sets of blinds, thrown out numerous towels, and had to fix the window sills of several windows. Once we made it past this stage, he proved to be a wonderful addition to our family. He was always even tempered despite being so energetic and absolutely loved playing fetch.
One memory that always comes to mind when we are talking about pets, is the year of the big blizzard in Georgia. We were taking Spaz out for his walk, and he ran down the stairs in his normal fashion. As he rounded the corner at the bottom to head to the grassy area behind our apartment, he went headfirst into a deep snow bank. He was at a loss as to what all this white stuff was impeding his progress. We laughingly extricated him, brushed the snow off, and sent him on his way, but his steps were much more calculated and ginger after the snow dive. He was not going to risk that again.
There was also the time we went to my Mema’s for Thanksgiving. She was serving ham and it was sitting on the kitchen table waiting to be carried to the dining room table. Spaz noticed an opportunity for a snack. He managed to sneak up into a chair and snagged one piece of ham. Nothing else was touched but that piece he grabbed. We couldn’t help but laugh as he ran across the yard with a large slice of the Thanksgiving ham flapping out of the side of this mouth.
Later when we decided it was time to add to our family with a child of our own, we were concerned as to how Spaz would be with the baby. We need not have worried. He still loved a vigorous game of fetch but was more mature and somewhat calmer. When the new addition arrived and we brought him home, Spaz sniffed him curiously then curled up next to the play yard we had set up in the living room as if to say he approved.
As our son grew, he saw Spaz as an additional toy. Spaz was exceptionally tolerant of the hair tugs, ear pulls, bulldozing and tumbling. Occasionally our little tyke would get a good grip on the fuzzy tail of his furry friend and Spaz would pull him around the house behind him. We called them our cleaning system for the floor. We could not have asked for a better dog with our active and inquisitive young son.
We’ve had other dogs along with a few other pets through the years but our fondest memories of animals in our lives center around Spaz the most. Unfortunately he is no longer with us after having to bid him farewell a few years ago. It was with mixed emotions that we said our good byes to the furry member of our family. He was no longer in pain and could once again play fetch in the clouds with the angels but it left a hole in our hearts and family. He was more than a dog; he was family.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
I appreciate you sharing this. :)