A Writing Experiment

[TheDR4KE]

Re: Round II

What pets did you have as a child?
What were their names?
How special were they to you?
Do you have a special memory including them?

When I was little, probably about 7 I guess, we got a dog but it turned out that I was allergic and we had to let it go back to wherever it came from. Not sure what that taught me about relationships


When I was about 13 we inherited two birds with a house my parents bought. One died of old age and I couldn't go down to the backyard to watch dad bury it. I was bawling on bed. We gave the other to an aviary. It mourned too much.


After that we tried again with the dog, and this worked. Probably because he was an outside dog this time. He died, probably poisoned, and I found him. I still remember. Dad was away somewhere and my mum was all panicky because she hadn't heard him bark at the garbos that morning. I went down to see. It was just her and me at home that day. I went to school but that really made me reflect a lot on life. I also remember just sitting on a bench that day, a lot.


We got another dog after that one died, but then I moved out to go to Uni and I didn't get to spend that much time with him. He was difficult. Would climb fences to get out and was a bit of a cat killer. My parents were too worried about him hurting a small kid walking with a little dog or cat one day when he was 'out' so they ended up taking him to the pound. I don't know if he found a home or not.


You know ... thinking about pets is really interesting and very emotional.







the D

 

[Ishmael]

I've had many pets over the years. Almost all were dogs. A few cats here and there but for the most part dogs.

Each was special their own way. Characters that you get to know and love.

There are two that stand out equally in my mind, and both were German Shepards.

The first was Missy. My father got her for me (actually for his and my Mom's piece of mind more than for me) when I was just going on three. My father trained her and trained her well. I couldn't go anywhere without the dog. If I put a foot in the street she'd grab me by the seat of my pants and pull me back. When my mother wanted me, she called the dog. (You know how kids can get 'hard of hearing' sometimes. ) Where ever Missy came from, that's where I was. On more than one occasion I dragged Missy home and told my mother to "keep this tattletale in the house". Of course she'd just laugh at me. Missy frustrated all my attempts at independence. Damn dog. But there were the fringe benefits as well. I did misbehave on occasion (really, I did.) so a few well placed swats on the behind were in order. Well, with Missy around that couldn't happen. She wouldn't even let my parents lay a hand on me. They had to lock the dog up and by that time they were over the 'mad' part, or laughing about the dog so much that I got off real easy.

Missy and I were inseperable until my 6th year. My father was being transfered to Thule Greenland for a year. A hardship tour with no dependents allowed. My mother and I were going to live with my grandmother, in an apartment, in a city.

I remember the day the vet came to put Missy down. After he had left I went out to the barn. She was just lying there. The flies had already gathered and all the sparkle was gone from her eyes. Good bye Missy.

Have to stop now. I'll talk about the second dog in a bit.

Ishmael

 

[Guest]

Re: Round II

What pets did you have as a child?
What were their names?
How special were they to you?
Do you have a special memory including them?

My family had a number of pets when I was young. My dad hunts racoon and so he has about four hounds in the backyard. We also had a few rabbits, a cat, and a few puppies.

I don't remember the names of all of them, especially the hounds since I don't hunt myself. The cat, however, was named Gizmo, after the cute little critter off of the movie Gremlins.

I was never very close with Gizmo, however, because my little brother and sister were abusive to her and she eventually ran away. After that we never saw her again. Since I wasn't very close with her, I don't really have any special memories.

 

[Ishmael]

Part II

The second dog was named Bravo. He came to the family from a friend that was moving out of country. Bravo was 18 months and fully trained, I was 11 year's old.

We were living in El Paso, TX. then. On the edge of the dessert. Lots of room for the two of us. The first thing I taught him was to play baseball. He couldn't bat, but he could play outfield. The entire outfield as a matter of fact. No fly ball ever got past him. My father and I trained him to traces and he'd pull a wagon with my little brother in it, or the sled when we went to the mountains in N.M. to cut Xmas trees. I had a job delivering fliers with the local theaters' movie schedule. So, I trained Bravo to deliver one side of the street while I delivered the other. (Some of the fliers were a little 'slobbery' to be sure, but no one complained. )

We moved to Omaha, NB. after a year or two and stayed in semi-rural areas. I got a paper route and Bravo and I delivered the papers. Hell, he knew my customers as well as I did. On Sundays he'd pull a wagon with the entire load in the spring, summer, fall months and a sled in the winter. Collecting took three nights because everyone wanted to see him do his 'tricks'. Good tips from that.

My father and I pheasant hunted as well. So, instead of getting a pionter/retriever we went and bought a dozen pidgeons, clipped their wings and used them to train Bravo. He never injured a bird. The guy across the street had a weimeraner(sp) that he was always bragging about so we took the pidgeons out with he and his dog and we with Bravo. His dog killed every bird it picked up and didn't follow hand signals very well.

There were some rough spots though. While I was at school Bravo would watch over the property. He'd meet the mailman at the walk, walk him up to the door, and walk him back. (anyone remember when they actually brought the mail to your door?) The was a substitute carrier one day that reacted out of fear and swung his mail bag at Bravo. Bravo took him down and held him until my mother came out. He didn't break the skin, but he had that guy talking to God that morning. We had to pick up our mail at the post office from that day forward.

The stories are endless.

Bravo was hit by a car when I was 16.

I'll never forget either he or Missy. I've had and bred many dogs since. All unique in their own way. It would be nice to think that I would once again have a dog like those two. But I think that only a child can bond with an animal in so thorough a fashion. The endless summers and after school romps. The runs in the snow on winter nights, or the hilarity of seeing them try to run on ice. The age of exploration when the world is bright and shiny. When everything you see and do is new. You can't go back.

Ishmael

 

[tswyk]

Re: Round II

What pets did you have as a child?
What were their names?
How special were they to you?
Do you have a special memory including them?

As a child, we always had German Sheppards. My dad was an MP in the Army and we all knew about him and Duke - his black GS. Duchess was the one I remember most. She was a white GS and we loved to play with her in our back yard. Feeding her was our chore and she made a great playmate when we were playing "Cowboys and Indians" or "Star Trek" - we always had her tied up to something!

I was there when she gave birth to puppies - home alone, terrified out of my mind. What a mess! But they all lived and I still remember what it was like to see those little babies coming into this world.

As an adult, I had a Golden Retriever - Jake. He was the BEST DOG ever! He was my bud - went everywhere with me - to work, to the grocery, to my friend's homes - everywhere. Jake loved riding in the car - he'd jump in the car and just sit there, hoping that it would be going somewhere soon. He was 90 pounds of loving fun, and I miss him more than I can say. He was 13 when he died - just fell at the back door and was gone. It's been more than 6 years, but I still miss him. I've had 3 dogs since then, but none have touched me the way Jake did.

Now, my cat, Prince Albert...he's 19 years old and the absolute love of my life. Mostly he's called "Bert" and he's really the King, not just the prince! Whatever he says, goes. And he will sure let you know what he wants and that he wants it NOW! He's my constant partner when I'm home - following me, sitting in my lap, or next to my feet, always sleeping next to me, under the covers, spooned with his little back to my stomach, purring away. He watches TV with me, sits in my office to keep me company, wants to be with me all the time - what a great feeling!

I will miss him when he's gone - I'm always afraid when I leave town for a few days that he will go while I'm away. I just recently moved 200 miles away and he and I are on our own for the first time in years. I was really surprised that he made the whole trip happily - not screaming the whole way, like he does when we go to the vet. Now, he did run from me when I pulled the crate out for a trip back, but settled in quickly. He's my best friend - I cannot imagine what my daily life will be like when he's not around.

Pets are our truest friends - always there, always loving, always forgiving, always welcoming.

 

[erosman]

When I was 15, I talked a local rodeo stock contractor into letting us take care of one of his Brahma bulls for a few weeks, so that we could have a couple of heifers bred. This bull was well over 6 feet tall at his hump, and weighed in near 3,500 lbs. Needless to say, the next spring I got a bull calf out of the deal. I named him Malcolm (after Malcolm X...lol). He was a beautiful, dark burgundy color with cream colored hair around his eyes, ears and horns. I know he wasn't exactly your typical pet, but I surely did love him. When he was about 1 year old, we tried to buck him, but he just didn't have enough of an ornery spirit. He was a gentle giant.

 

[MissTaken]

Re: Round II

What pets did you have as a child?
What were their names?
How special were they to you?
Do you have a special memory including them?

Yayyy, new questions!


I do remember my very first pets. There names were Lord and Lady Garfield. They were hamsters aka rodents, but we liked them.

With four children, dear old mum didn't need to take on anything bigger or more demanding.

They werent' terribly special. My most special pet was my kitten that I found in the basement. She was a lanky tiger cat and when we found her, she was absolutely ugly.

As a grown cat, she was graceful and seemed to carry Siamese traits. She ate popcorn or cereal out of a bowl. Her name was Gina, short for Regina as she was very regal in stature.

Then, when I was in college, one day she just didn't come home.

My poor mum was so attached, she has always said that "Gina is on vacation," rather than the obvious.

 

[tswyk]

Re: Re: Round II

"Gina is on vacation"

Oh! This just breaks my heart!!!!!


t

 

[LukkyKnight]

A curious thread you've wrought, tswyk.

 

[LC Rough Caress]

A curious thread you've wrought, tswyk.

Yeah, but it's lots of fun. And you get that good kind of anticipation wondering what she'll post up next.

 

[tswyk]

Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

 

[MissTaken]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

I never really had a nickname with the exception of the shortened version of my real name.

However, my granny used to call me Lucy when I was a wee girl. It was based on the rhyme about Lucy Locket.

It was special between she and I.

 

[christcat69]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

My nickname was monkey.
My Dad gave it to me.
I guess I thought it was silly then, now I realize that if I were an animal I'd probably be a cat not a monkey.
As a kid I was very petite and I would climb on everything, trees, people, furniture.
My Dad still calls me it and now my girl calls me monkey or monkeybone.

 

[Wiggles]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

My dad nicknamed me Turnip, because I just turned up. I never really knew what it meant till' later on, it doesn't bother me. No one calls me by that name.

There were other nicknames... but we won't get into those.

 

[Wiggles]

Re: Round II

What pets did you have as a child?
What were their names?
How special were they to you?
Do you have a special memory including them?



I'll be posting my little ditty latter today - Happy Wednesday to all!

<Catching up>

My favorite childhood pet was Sam, he was a fat little black dog. He was my second best friend. My most fond memory was in the kitchen by the floor heater, where'd he lay all the time. I'd just sit there and rub his big belly. I bonded with him because he was chubby, like I was then, and he would sit there with me until I was finished crying.

My first experience with death was the day he died.

 

[Wiggles]

Who were your best childhood friends?
What do you remember about them?
Are you still in touch with them?

<Catching up>

My best friend as a child was Chrissy, she had all the cool stuff. I thought she was incredibly rich because she had a pool, two play rooms at her grandpas, and a third at her moms. We'd often play kidnap Barbie while smoking crayon cigarettes lit with domino lighters.

I'm kinda in touch with her these days, or I easily could be. Right now she's a stripper living down town. Kinda posh, really. I just feel very boring around her, and that's not something I want to feel like, so I don't really do it.

 

[tswyk]

Re: Re: A Writing Experiment

I just feel very boring around her

I CANNOT imagine!!!!!!


Welcome to our little corner!

 

[JazzManJim]

Who were your best childhood friends?
What do you remember about them?
Are you still in touch with them?

I really didn't have friends as a kid, for a variety of reasons.

My best friend throughout high school was Abby. She was a couple years younger than I, and we always got along splendidly. We used to talk half the night away and remained friends once out of highschool for several years.

We parted ways when I was maybe 23 or so. I bumped into her again a few years later and something really nice clicked. We started dating and went out for nearly a year. I very nearly fell in love with her but she sort of pre-empted that by telling me she was falling for one of my best friends.

They got married a few months later. I played at their wedding. I see them both once in a while, butnot all that often.


Wow..not a very happy story, huh?

 

[Wiggles]

Re: Re: Re: A Writing Experiment

Welcome to our little corner!

Hey! Thank you!

http://www.jamezbrown.com/mysmilies/contrib/tweetz/hug.gif

 

[LC Rough Caress]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

I didn't have a nickname as a child, but back in high school my friends called me Father Goose. This was because I used to tell unbeliveably fucked up stories, like the time me and Indiana Jones marched into the arctic and took on a band of rabid wombats. I just made up crazy shit as I went along, and everyone loved it because it was so funny. My signature weapon of choice was the "Pig Sticker", a three foot bowie knife with the words "Pig Sticker" engraved on the side. I liked the name, although most people shortened it and just called me Goose. It was a play on Mother Goose.

Fortunately, no one calls me that anymore, since I no longer hang around with the same crowd from high school. It was fun while it lasted, but I don't think it would be fun anymore.

 

[tswyk]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

I, personally, did not have a childhood nick-name. (I did manage one as a young adult, but we won't go there!)

My youngest sister, however, did have one - at least at our home. She was six years younger than me and was mostly seen as a pest - always in the way, aways into trouble. That child swallowed more stuff - birth control pills, for one - than you could have thought possible and still live.

My mother started it - she called her "Monster". It stuck. We all called her that - until she was old enough to realize how bad it was and insist that we stop. She was a handfull, for sure!

My grandmother has always called me by my first and middle name - always - not just when I'm in trouble. Being a true Southern Belle, my middle name is "Ann", so you can just imagine. She still does it - and when she writes me, she addresses me the same way. I'm the only one she does this to - it makes me feel special.

Good Morning to all!

 

[Tantanah]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

My childhood nickname was Pinky.
My mother gave it to you.
I didn't mind it, I got used to it.
It was just a reference to my coloring...I was slightly on the pink side. LOL
My brother still calls me that.

 

[erosman]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

I was given a nick-name in 6th grade that became the bane of my life. A friend thought it would be cute to use a frequent mispronunciation of my last name and couple it with part of my physical attribute. It caught on, and it hurt like a hot poker every time I heard it. He even developed slogans and short verses. Looking back, I can see that he was trying to put us on the same level. I was an arrogant, outspoken brainiac and he just wanted to feel like we were equals. I think it worked, because we did end up spending a lot of time together in high school chasing opportunities to ride horses and bulls. My final triumph of my nick-name was to emboss it on the back of my western belt. At that point, I think I owned it. My friend today, is in a mental facility. We parted company when I headed for college, and the drugs and alcohol drew him down a spiraling path of destruction.

 

[eastTNbbw]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

Hi there Tswyk....hope all is going good for ya....now let me see, a nickname.

Yep, got one and I have used it all my life....still do One of my older brothers couldn't pronounce my given name so I got stuck with the usual nickname. I can remember as a kid hating my name but then somehow, I got to where it gave me something to live up to and in many ways a description of the person I hope I am. It also allows for some pretty run of the mill pick up lines

Every once in a while, I think about using my given name when I introduce myself but that just seems so formal and I'm by no means formal. I think sometimes about using my middle name but alas, I have grown too attached and like being reminded of what is good. Thanks for the questions, this is fun....
Candy

 

[perks]

Re: Round III

Did you have a nick-name as a child?
Who gave it to you?
Did you like it?
What was the meaning behind it?
Who, if anyone, still calls you by that name?

several nicknames

parents called me la nooch, and because of my name it turned into melanooch. The nooch is a mixture between a nudge and a mooch.

That morphed into a mix between bella and mela, so sometimes it's mella. I actually really like the mella, I think it fits.

A group of us in HS went by the nicknames of the Agents. We had squirt guns and all sorts of things. I was Agent Melba <Summery is an honorary agent*grin*>

My parents still call me mellanooch, as do some other people, since it is one of my screennames.

Of course, more often than not, I'm being called perks or perky by someone.