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Thursday, January 12, 2006
Never Say Never
Come on, admit it. You have one. I have several. Everyone has something you swore, at some point in your life, that you would never do, say, embrace, believe, try, enjoy or experience. And then...voila. It is another point in your life and something has changed. The very stuff you filed under "Never" is Now.
For example, I swore I would NEVER...
- Blog. Hah!
- Go strapless. Then they invented those see-through bra straps.
- Know the words to The Barney Song. Then I had kids.
- Go to the supermarket without makeup. Then I had kids.
- Act like my mother. Then I had kids.
See? You never know. My latest NSN has four legs, one tail and the cutest ugly face you've ever seen. Until September 24 of this year, I was Not A Dog person. In fact, I was the polar opposite of a dog person. I not only didn't like dogs, I was more than a little terrified of them. Hated the smell, the sound, the disgusting activities, the very concept of a dog. Never uttered the phrase "Oh, I'd like a dog" ever ever ever.
Then I had kids. (Yes, Doctor, I see the pattern.) Persuasive, dog-wanting kids who are so darn dear that it's hard to say no. (Although I do, I swear I do!) Worse, I have a husband. A terrific, accommodating, dog-wanting husband who asks for little and does so much. And I have a job that keeps me at home nearly all day, a stable life with modest travel, a house big enough to add another tenant and...a soft heart. After a year of consideration, research, vacillation and worry, we settled on an Australian Terrier -- a breed reported to be hearty, healthy, loving and smart.
Ladies and gentlemen, NEVER say never. Never say you won't love a dog. Never say you won't feed a dog from your bare hand. Never say you won't stand outside in a hurricane (literally, although just a category 1) so the pup can do "poo tinky". In fact, you should never say you won't allow the words "poo tinky" into your vocabulary. Never, never say you won't speak English to a dog. Never say you won't ask a dog questions or share secrets with it. And you can just forget 'a dog will never be on my bed.' Or, in my case, IN my bed. Never say never.
Her name is Pepper and I have NEVER loved a non-human so much.
Long ago, I had another Never Say Never. When I finished reading a book that took me on a rollercoaster ride and left me breathless and happy and wanting to get back in line for the next thrill...I used to think, "I could never do that." But just this morning I opened an email from a woman in Wisconsin who told me she'd taken that ride and my name was on the cover. I just sat here like a fool, grinning, with tears in my eyes, a bit overwhelmed as I am every time a perfect stranger takes the time to tell me I stole her sleep and touched her heart. I never dreamed I could do that. The letter made me so happy...I read it to my puppy.
xoxo
Rocki
posted by Roxanne St. Claire at 6:20 PM
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5 Comments:
Marilyn said...
Been there, done that! Parenthood changes everything
Poo tinky. *snicker*
7:37 AM
Eve said...
LOL! I said I was never having any more KIDS after having two. Then when those two were 14 and 17 years old, I had one more.
I must admit, when I was pregnant, I wasn't exactly overjoyed at first, and then I started bonding finally around six months. When he was born and I held him in my arms for the first time, my heart did that age old meltdown and I knew I was capable of loving one more child.
But, not having learned my lesson, of course I said I'll NEVER have any more. Now my youngest is six and he has been begging for a sister for two years. And guess what, we've been thinking about having one more...
I might not have learned never to say never, but I HAVE learned that my heart has lots more room to love, and love strongly, than I ever knew possible, no matter how many "poo tinky's" come with it. ;)
Eve
PS Pepper is a cutie!
8:55 AM
Charlene said...
Rocki,
Love the "poo tinky". The dog is adorable! And I can relate to NSN. When I'm not writing, I teach a class on Baby Care Basics at our local hospital (have for over 20 years) and one of the first things I tell new parents-to-be is Never Say Never. When it comes to kids and matters of the heart -- you NEVER know what you're willing to do!
Charlene Sands
9:01 AM
raine said...
As for the dog--
I knew you'd come around. ;-)
~Dream
9:25 AM
Heather said...
Okay...I want to try this.
I will NEVER write a best-seller.
I will NEVER win a million dollars.
I will NEVER lose weight.
Now, they have to happen.
And btw, Pepper is precious.
6:19 AM
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