Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey

And they called it puppy love…

Author: thenicknick

Let’s start with the easy stuff.  It all began this morning when I was talking to my mother and she noted that I’m in love…oh, and it’s with Bishop.  And it would be hard not to love Bishop.

See, he’s absolutely gorgeous, for one thing.  And if that weren’t enough, he’s completely taken with me.  We women know how easy it is to succumb to that kind of adoration.  He follows me everywhere…EVERYWHERE.  I haven’t had this much company in the bathroom since the kids were in diapers.  There’s something comforting about hearing his big feet padding alongside me.  It’s when he stops that we have issues.  And I can only imagine that the issues are going to get worse.

He’s already a big boy, but we have acknowledged that he is going to be HUGE.  And I mean MASSIVE.  Right now, the place that he feels the most secure is with me, behind me, or in between my legs.  In the not so distant future, I can absolutely see him knocking me off my feet.   And when some people use the expression that something is going to be the death of them, they usually mean it figuratively.  Me, it’s not such an impossibility that this dog won’t cause my death.  I back up and stumble over him all the time.  So, for future reference, it was nice knowing you.

Then there’s the constant chewing issue.  We have so many dog toys scattered around the living room that it looks like a bomb went off.  And what does he want to chew on?  Let’s see…me.  Mostly me.  Oh, and when he’s not chewing on me, it’s whatever is near me.  This morning alone, it was the coffee table, which has legs like 3×3 posts and he can wrap his mouth around…and the top of the coffee table, which is a wood and stone slab a good three inches thick.  And then we were in the kitchen…so much for the cabinets.  And when I sat farther from the coffee table, it was the area rug that S and I picked out last fall.  Thankfully, we’re not attached to any of it.  (And yes, we are attempting to correct these issues and redirect his attention to an acceptable plaything.  I never would have thought of that!)

But other than these few downsides (imminent death and constant destruction), how could I not love Bishop?  He greets me with the same enthusiasm whether I’m coming back in from getting the mail or from having been at work all day.  He lays all over me and snuggles me.  And if I could just get him to stop using me as his favorite teething toy, we’d get along even better.

I also happen to love the way he tilts his head when I talk, like he’s really listening and processing what I say.  His father, S, does the same thing…with completely different results.  S will listen to what I say, internalize it, and get it.  Bishop…not so much.  Take a few moments ago, for instance.  (And for your benefit, I will also be playing the role of Bishop for this exercise.)

me: (after investigating the chewing sound emanating from under the computer desk) Hey! No chewing on the power cord.

Bishop: (quirking his eyebrows)  Well, okay.  (and the chewing ceases)

A few moments pass…

me: (in response to the chewing sound AGAIN)  Hey!  No means no!

Bishop: (dropping his head in dismay)  Really?  Is that your final answer?

me: What did you think I said?  Not now?  Maybe later?  No!  No.  Chewing. On. The. Cord.  (Sometimes you have to speak slowly and use smaller words.  Helps with the breakdown in communication.)

So, while he has stopped the chewing, he’s currently dreaming while I type.  And I can only imagine the cute little puppy dreams he’s having.  I bet, in his dream, he’s chewing on piles and piles of cords and he never even gets shocked or yelled at.  On the other hand, the way his legs are moving…maybe he’s dreaming about my sneaker that he strolled off with last night right in front of me and I had to retrieve.  Yup, he looks like he’s playing keep away to me.  And he seems really happy.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 am and is filed under Bishop tales. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.