Left to Right: Markus, Madison, Moffat, Morgan.
Tomie remembered two birthdays: His own and his mother’s. So, it was an unexpected revelation - while I was driving through New London and I thought of three unrelated remarks spoken over a span of several weeks - that occurred when the light bulb went on. I realized Tomie was going to surprise me with a puppy for my birthday.
The idea of the gift was VERY thoughtful, but (insert RuPaul comment, “and it’s a big ‘but’”) there were already four Welsh terriers on campus. Markus was sort of a rescue dog (rescued from a challenged home life) and had “issues.” Madison wanted nothing to do with the other dogs. Moffat, Tomie’s favorite, bit everyone (except Tomie and me). Morgan was chill. Maybe this wasn’t the right time for the gift of a fifth dog.
Yet, some Saturdays later, Tomie rushed from the house to the barn in a dramatic state of upset. He told me he needed to leave for a few hours. He would return in the evening with an explanation. He shared several days later that he was so pleased with his surely award-winning performance that he was shaking as he drove out of the driveway. Method acting. Whereas, I sat calmly in the barn thinking, “My surprise puppy is coming today.”
That Saturday evening I saw headlights pull into the driveway. I was on the phone with my mother and told her, “I’ve got to go. My birthday puppy is here.”
Tomie carried the dog crate into the barn and placed it on the floor. Markus ran to the crate and lifted his leg as if to inform the puppy that he, Markus, was boss. But, we all (the dogs, Tomie, me) knew who was Boss. Moffat.
The gift was an Airedale puppy. The breeder was in Kansas City, MO. She wouldn’t send a dog if it had to change planes without assistance. So, Tomie flew from Manchester, NH, to Philadelphia to pick up the puppy and hang out with it as they waited for the flight back to NH.
When Tomie told this story, he would add that he was furious once he realized I knew about the gift. He would have sent me to Philadelphia to pick up the puppy.
Photos by famed pet photographer, Jon Gilbert Fox. (Bob)
Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
