Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
I’m stretching the time-frame for my remembered Christmas from childhood into my adult years, as I recall the most splendid toy given to me. I don’t think you’ll mind. Who can argue with the joy of a puppy?
He wasn’t particularly little. Albeit only eight weeks old, the half German shepherd, half golden retriever was a gorgeous dog with floppy ears, big paws and a happy tongue. My two-year-old son couldn’t stop giggling at the surprise.
The two-year-old who wasn’t potty trained.
Did I mention I was seven months pregnant?
My husband was so excited to bring home a puppy. I’d never been allowed one while growing up, and he knew, just knew, he was making a dream come true.
Really?
Who was going to clean up after this little boy? Er, this puppy? You know, out in the yard?
We lived in the country without any neighbors, up on a granite ledge in Connecticut that backed up to the U.S. Navy submarine base. Surrounded by woods, we were in a lonely spot. That was part of the reason for a dog.
My husband was about to become the chief engineer on the oldest nuclear submarine in the Atlantic Ocean. “I’ll be going to sea. It’s just you and the kids up here by yourselves. I’ll feel better knowing you have a watch dog.”
I looked at the puppy that already had wrapped his teeth around my slipper. I’d always wanted a dog…
We named him Diggory. He was an excellent watch dog.
A memorable Christmas gift that kept on giving? You can guess what I cleaned up for the next six months.
Ha! This is excellent. Potty training your son and the pup. Such adorable pictures!
Curious where you lived in CT. That’s where I live.
~ Wendy
Groton, down in the southeast corner, a beautiful spot–but then I think all of Connecticut is beautiful.
Oh Michelle! I don’t envy the work you had to do raising and training a 2 year old, a puppy and a baby. But I bet the fruits of your labor were well worth it.
I have a 2 year old, three dogs and am 4 months pregnant. My youngest dog is the same age as my 2 year old, so…I remember the hard work. But it’s worth it.
Me too.
~ Wendy
What a wonderful memory, Michelle! Your photos are darling!
We lost our precious, black Lab in a tornado several years ago and the sting is still fresh. Our daughter would love to have another dog, but she says that she will settle for a hamster. Hmmm…
I had to laugh because men seem to always forget details like that. My husband desperately wanted a puppy last Christmas, which we got (belatedly in January), and I bet you can guess which one of us has clean up duty. If I left it up to him, he’d forget until the yard was completely unliveable 🙂
What a wonderful story! It definitely made me smile, both as a dog lover and as someone who was once married to a sailor and lived in Groton for five years. Definitely a beautiful area. We lived in the housing on Jackson Drive, and while it wasn’t my favorite place ever, I have some fond memories of it, since that was where I was living when my son was born.
Great photos, too! 🙂
The work is one reason I don’t have a dog. The kittens were tough enough. Thanks for sharing this great memory, Michelle. That picture is priceless.
What a joy to come to the blog today and see the wonderful Christmas memories. Thanks to all of you.
I was born on December 21st, the second of twin girls, and did not know my mother had serious trouble delivering us until a Christmas day when I was fourteen years old.
Daddy had drawn my name for Christmas, and given me a precious gift–his gold coin. I went to the basement later that day and saw him and went up to him to thank him again. That is when he told me of the doctor going to him and asking which one he wanted, his wife or his child. Daddy had six little children, including my newborn sister, and in the moments he had to choose, told the doctor, his wife. He was an atheist, due to circumstances as a child, but he said, “I sat down on the chair and asked God to let you live. It was the first time I ever prayed.”
Needless to say, I was astounded, and forever thankful that God honored my father’s torn heart and answered his prayer. I had this story published in Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul. I cannot keep from weeping whenever I think of it. Wanda Rosseland
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story, Wanda, and how gratifying it is that God answered the prayer of a man in despair–despite his reluctance to recognize the Creator of the Universe. Blessings and merry Christmas–happy birthday, too!–to you.
I remember Christmas as a world of imagination far beyond any child of today’s imagination. I believed everything was true about Christmas, it was so magical and realistic, and even the birth of Christ the King. I am glad I have those memories instilled in my imaginative mind. Mike a 54 year old kid.