Writing Prompt #6: Dogs

Tanner's prompt for today is Dogs.

Oh, boy.

Shortly after moving to Oklahoma, I went to the local animal control shelter and adopted a dog. I named her Kensi, after the NCIS: Los Angeles character. I put her in my backseat to drive home, and within a couple of minutes, she had crawled over the center console into my lap. She's not a small dog, and my car isn't a big car, so this was a bit of a problem. But all it took was her trying to lick my face while I was driving to make me fall in love.

I wanted a pet because I was going to be living all alone for the first time, and I knew I would need a reason to not just sit in my living room and binge watch Hulu when I wasn't at work.

Also, I just like dogs.

I wasn't allowed to have pets inside my house, so Kensi lived in the backyard and garage. She would have rather been inside, but the backyard and garage provided opportunities for her favorite activity: fetch. I learned very quickly that tennis balls were the best thing in the entire world to this dog. Treats are great; she likes meeting new people; squirrels are exciting; but tennis balls, oh man, they are the best, paws down.

I say that, and now I'm going to immediately contradict myself. Tennis balls are second on Kensi's list. Number one on her list is me. I've never had another pet (except maybe my cat Sabrina growing up) who just adored me, specifically, so much. My family came to visit me just a day after I brought Kensi home, and don't get me wrong, she loved them right away, but even if they were all outside with her, if I went inside, she ran to the door and whined. She just wants to be with me all of the time.

Exhibit B of this phenomenon: I worked just across a large parking lot from my house. Kensi watched me walk to work every day. One day, she got out of the yard and came and scratched at my office door to be let in. She didn't want to run away. She just missed me.

When Tammy came to live with me, Kensi was the best icebreaker I could have hoped for. Tammy loved Kensi instantly, and it was mutual. We went on many a walk and played many, many games of fetch. Tammy used to put on "dog shows" in our backyard and at the neighboring park.

Tammy's middle school was just down the block from our house, and we usually walked there and back. Kensi became a staple of the schoolyard; kids loved to greet her after school every day while I waited for Tammy. When Tammy started high school, I brought Kensi with me almost every day to drop her off and pick her up. Dog selfies in the car became my life. Check out my Facebook feed if you don't believe me. At least half of my pictures (if not more) are dog selfies.

Kensi also proved her worth as an author. She wrote a few Christmas cards. I did the actual writing, since Kensi doesn't have thumbs, but she told me what to say. She always signed off with, "Merry Christmas! Woof!"

Life in Oklahoma wasn't easy, but I always knew that Kensi would have a smile for me. Without her, I don't know that I would have made it through.

When we moved to Wisconsin, there was never any question: Kensi was coming with us. It's been lovely getting to have her inside the apartment. She keeps my feet warm at night and my kitchen floor nice and clean. She greets our visitors and snuggles on the couch and keeps watch from our balcony. Life has never been better for this dog of mine.

This coming Tuesday morning, both of our lives are going to change. Kensi will become someone else's dog. But that's not what I wanted this blog post to be about. I wanted to remember the good times. If you have any good memories with Kensi - and I know many of you do - leave them in the comments below.

Stay tuned for May 18th: Grief/Loss.