A Dog Named Bella

by Wilfred Bereswill

Okay, The Amazing Race is over and I’m coming off a crazy weekend. I completely forgot about my blog until my little reminder from Outlook popped up. First of all, I love The Amazing Race and this looks like another great season. I know that our own Annette was watching, that is if her Facebook status was accurate.

This was income tax weekend and that means I bought my copy of Turbotax Home and Business and began pouring through receipts, W-2’s, 1099int’s, 1099misc’s, and a slew of other 1099s. I filed taxes for all three of my daughters and then began the drudgery of preparing our own. I’m also preparing for a second interview with a company that I have high hopes for.

Not only that, but we have a new member in our family. Her name is Bella. She has managed to poop on the carpet, pee in the kitchen and chew up a few things. She’s a three month old micro-teacup Yorkshire Terrier.

I love animals. Always have. All through high school I wanted to be a veterinarian. With that said, I did NOT want a Yorkie. Too small and yippie. In fact, my wife and I still weren’t really ready for another dog. This past summer we lost our friend, Fraiser. Fraiser was a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier. He died this year on the Fourth of July at the ripe old age of 13 ½. It’s hard to lose a member of the family.

I think I was getting ready for a new dog, but my daughters were way ahead of me. Several weeks ago, my oldest daughter visited a breeder with one of her friends who was going to see the puppy they had reserved. She called pleading to let her buy a dog. She found a Yorkie there and, of course, fell in love with it. I stood firm. The pleads turned to tears and sobs on the phone. We both tell her “NO” and we think it’s over.

Ha! The very next day, one of her ex-boyfriends offered her a female Yorkie. His mother’s dog had two in the litter and the mother tried to keep one of them. His Dad said no, so... He called my daughter. She convinced my wife to let her bring it by the house, “Just for a quick visit,” she said. I KNEW it was all over at that point. This dog is about the size of a big hamster and has a face that you fall in love with immediately.



We’ve had her a couple of weeks now. That shy little teddy bear has a huge personality. She’s now comfortable around the house and she runs around like a banshee. For some reason, she doesn’t feel like she should have to walk anywhere. She wants to be carried and is most comfortable curled up on your lap.
As it turns out, I really missed not having a dog in my life. There’s just something about coming home to that wagging tail that makes me smile. Well, I’m off to go chase her around the house a little so she’ll sleep through the night.

On another note, if you haven't seen it, I would really recommend seeing the movie, Grand Torino. Funny and touching flick about an aging war veteran that finds himself alone after his wife dies. CLint Eastwood plays the part of Walt Kowalski, a grumpy, tough-minded, borderline-hateful, unhappy old man who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors. He's a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in cherry condition. When his neighbor Tao, a young Hmong teenager, tries to steal his car, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Tao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them form the gangs that foul their neighborhood.

As a writer, I was really drawn in to the wonderful repartee between Eastwood and all of his ethnic neighbors. I thought it was a fabulous movie.

I need to get back to work preparing for tomorrow’s interview. Wish me luck tomorrow and a little prayer, if your so inclined, would be appreciated. I’ll check in when I can.