Thursday, May 06, 2010

Slice of Lime-My Snoopy

My brother loved Snoopy the cartoon. For a very brief time our family had an actual dog though. Twiggy was our big, slobbering St. Bernard puppy before my brother was born. I treated her like she was a pony because I can recall many times being told to stop trying to ride on her back. I can also remember feeding her wet leaves from the backyard...until she came inside and puked them all over the kitchen floor. Twiggy had an inclination for running away too and I know many times my dad had to go searching for her. Eventually it was agreed that since Dad's work schedule didn't allow him to be home much to train the dog and since Mom had a 3 year old and a baby and no interest in training a dog, Twiggy would have another home. I was crushed and remember informing the new family they better take good care of MY dog!

I think the best memory of Twiggy was sitting on our back porch during thunderstorms. Behind the house was an expanse of farmer's fields. Dad, the dog and I would sit on the porch and watch the lightning dance over the corn and alfalfa. Any other time a storm kicked up I was afraid, but on the porch with Dad and Twiggy I was safe and all was right with the world.

20 comments:

Suldog said...

My goodness! That's you in the photo? You look exactly the same! And who's the kid?

Hah! See what I did there?

Actually, it's a GREAT photo of a kid and her dog. The love on your face, while you're looking at Twiggy, is amazing. And Twiggy is just staring right into the soul of whomever is taking the photo.

Commander Zaius said...

This was an awesome post! Twiggy does look like a handful but isn't that how puppies are suppose to be?
So sorry she had to go to other people.

S said...

That is a cool lookin ol dog! I never knew about that dog, were you allergic?

Jazz said...

Twiggy. Interesting name for a St. Bernard.

Craig said...

Sweet!

Our family history with dogs was about the same as yours. When I was growing up, we acquired a couple of pups over the years, but they never managed to stay around for very long. . .

When 1F was a toddler, we got a black Lab puppy, who we had for about six months before we realized that we really weren't 'up' for training a puppy.

But he did teach 1F to stay out of the street. See, every time the dog set a paw over the curb, we'd whack him with the newspaper. And he was a bit dense about it (or, I admit the possibility that we just weren't very good 'trainers'), so he got whacked quite a bit. To which 1F paid studious attention, and took the lesson (which was meant for the dog, but she needed to know it, too) - step in the street, you get whacked. And so, when we'd walk up the street to church, she'd run on ahead, but stop on a dime as soon as she got to the curb.

So the dog was good for something. . .

Lulda Casadaga said...

What a great story/memory! And what a great looking pup...you ain't so bad lookin either with those rose colored shades...too cute!!

Did you keep tabs on Twiggy as she grew?

Logophile said...

I never did have a dog as a kid. My grandparents did though, so I co-opted theirs, and anyone else's who would let me.
I couldn't wait till I could get my own.
Mr. Logo and I have had pets most of our married life.

Mona said...

I love pet posts. Thanks for posting this. I guess I will post a pet post soon too!

secret agent woman said...

That'[s a shame that Twiggy had to be adopted out, although I can certainly understand that as a mother. Funny that she wasn't named something like Hefty, though.

Craver Vii said...

I can't get over those cool shades! You were quite the fashion queen back then, weren't you?

furiousBall said...

i love big pups. my yogi is huge for a golden retriever, but i really miss my old great pyrrennes, Juliet - 170 pounds of drool and love

Gledwood said...

Awww ~ it's such a shame you weren't a bit older so you could've trained the dog yourself.

I passed a giant St. Bernard on the street today. He had what looked like a muzzle ~ or else it was the leash wrapped round his nose ~ and was wearily ambling beside his owner. He looked more like a donkey than a doggie... He was beautiful :-)

Bijoux said...

That picture is SO ADORABLE!

Anonymous said...

dig the funky specs...

Brian Miller said...

twiggy...from Buck Rogers? cute pup...

Anonymous said...

There is nothing in the world that can compare with the love of a dog, and I don't mean the love you give it. I mean the love it gives you. I had a similar experience with "Liberty" a dog my Dad and step-mom had which I loved very much. Unfortunately they both were working at the time and Liberty had a love for eating the floor tile and cried when she was lonely. So she too needed to find a new home :-( And as a kid I was mad as he... maybe not quite over it yet hehehe.

(M)ary said...

What a big doggie boy. Sweet doggie boy.(this comment is best read with the voice you use when you see a cute baby)


PS cool glasses!

Hilary said...

Awww what a face. That dog was a beauty. And look at what a cutie you were! Nice to have such a fine memory of Twiggy and of your Dad.

Jocelyn said...

What a poignant Slice of Lime. I'm just all AWWWWWWWWWW over it, but Hilary took that line!

Cosima said...

Twiggy reminds me of the giant rabbit I had during one summer. He lived in a cage in our garden. In autumn he was gone and not one of the grown-ups wanted to tell me where he went (stew?). I am trying to make it all up to Bad-to-the-bone kitty cat.