Being Good With All My Might

He’s the most earnest little puppy soul. O’Henry. A big name for this small morsel of puppydom with his silky curls and pleading dark eyes. His puppy journey has been a bumpy one.

Those curls I mentioned have been a bit slow in coming in and one by one, his more extravagantly coated siblings left for their new homes while O’Henry watched wistfully, I try not to over dramatize their thoughts but I’ve been in dogs too many years not to believe they don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on when a sibling is carried out the door in some happy Puppy Person’s arms.

And, so I redid his puppy glamour shots the other day to show everyone that indeed, he was going to be just as curly and gorgeous as the rest of his siblings. This red-gold baby seemed to understand that he must pose and sit and turn exactly to show how beautiful he was becoming. I tried not to laugh, but look at his pathetic little face, trying so hard to be more adorable in each pose. Sweet lamb. Tiny white tipped tail tucked carefully still not even allowing himself to wag.

The updated pictures were just the ticket, his curls popping out here and there, the tiny white tipped tail trying not too wag too hard. I quickly had an inquiry from a lady in the East and happy day, O’Henry was scheduled to leave with the Flight Nanny for his journey to his forever home on Tuesday. I was so excited for him and as often happens, he just seemed to know that it was his turn, his time to pack up his puppy kit and his favorite alligator toy to make that exciting journey to meet his soon to be most beloved new owner.

Then, less than 12 hours later, a frantic call with explanations and apologies. An elderly mother in England with a health crisis, a long trip which meant this puppy would not be leaving Tuesday and patient little O’Henry sits and waits and watches, dreaming puppy dreams of the home that will soon be his.

Such is the way of things occasionally for a puppy. I think some of them are simply waiting for their people to find them. It happens so quickly at times, and then for other puppies, the process unfolds ever so slowly, until all the puppy stars align and the person that he’s been waiting for will see him and know that he’s the dog they’ve been searching for.

And then? The few short days of waiting (for puppies like small children find any time of waiting a small eternity) and an abundance of puppy kisses and PUPPY JOY begins.

I like to think that they always remember their first home at Foxglove Farm. That they remember us, and the first one who loved them, the one who helped them find their way home.