The Tale of Tess

For the last three Fridays, I have told you about our pets. Last week was Mindy. Thank you for all of your notes about that post. It was really sad to write. This is the last one...Tess.

After we got married, I guess that I was feeling uber-maternal and coerced my husband into adopting another friend. Actually, I had very little to do with it. While we were roaming Petsmart one day, she made eye contact with Dwight and it was done. I was fighting the urge to hold her at the time, so I was already under her spell.

We never baby-talked until Tess. We believe that if cloning ever becomes affordable, we could be in a danger zone. In fact, members of my family might join that club. Tess is just loveable. What more can I say?

Tess is a Skye Terrier perfectly mixed with something else, not a Newfoundland, like the rescue agency told us. We laugh at that now, considering that she is only 35 pounds, or so. I call her a stretch limo because she is not very tall, but she is very long. She is three years old, born October 18, 2006 (maybe), and since I am telling it, she is a mama’s girl.

Two of the funniest things about Tess:

Tess has a few phobias. She is really afraid of clothes, specifically laundry. If I sort or fold laundry, she is out of there. It used to be that whenever Dwight took off his socks, she would run out of the room or sit on top of me cowering. Now she just avoids the laundry. She is getting to be so brave.

We rooted for that one ear of hers to stand up, but it never did. She looks like she is tuning in a lost signal whenever she gets excited. I just love it.

Luckily, Tess is a talker and I mean that. She can talk and talk. So, what to say about Tess? I will let her speak for herself. I am enlisting the help of some personality test questions to introduce you to my friends. I have used the same questions for each, for comparison sake.

1. What three words best describe your personality?

I love playing, I love mama and daddy, and I love my sisters. Love, love, love.

2. What three words would others probably use to describe you?

I have heard my mama say words like, “Swee baby Bearwa (Sweet Baby Bear)”, “Booteepeel (Beautiful)”, and “Bave Gweel (Brave Girl)”.

3. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

Mama and Daddy, and Samdog and Maggiedog, also sheepdog, froggie, rodent, butler, and bah-bah (these are her stuffed friends that are all over the house). All of us are together and I love them very much.

Mimi (my mom) gave us a couch that I can sit on and nap, or watch the neighbors. I think that I like guarding but I like playing more. The best place in the whole world is outside. I love to go outside and chase bees, or birds. I am very fast and I like to feel the wind through my ear and tail.

4. Do you have any ailments or physical weaknesses?

I don’t think so because I don’t get morning treats like Maggiedog and Samdog. I give lots of kisses when they don’t feel like they want to play. Sometimes, they tell me to stop, but I don’t think they mean it.

I get a little scared sometimes, but mama and daddy tell me I am just fine.

5. If you were any other creature what would you be?

Mama says that I am, “da most booteepeel gweel in da whole wide weewoorld (most beautiful girl in the whole wide world)”, so it might make her sad if I changed.

6. What are your pet peeves?

I don’t know, but Sam says that I am her’s. I love Sam.

7. What is your greatest fear?

Laundry…very scary. Also, mama’s spiral notebook closing.

8. Do you care what others think of you?

I do care that everyone loves me. I tell them over and over, “I love you”. I usually get my way.

9. What is your favorite food?

Red bell peppers. Mama will give me bites when she cuts them for dinner.

10. How do you deal with stress?

I hide in the laundry room (ironic, right?).

God, thank you for Tess. She is the sprinkles all over our sundae. She is the evidence of your abundance and joy that you offer your people. She has made our old dogs young; and, she has shown me that there is room for everyone’s quirks, not as short-comings but as perfectly created entities. I have room for more of your goodness because of her.

Thanks for looking at my friends with me. I have enjoyed sharing them.