DOGGIE STYLE

I know someone may have misconstrued my catchy title. To be honest, I would have too if I was reading it face value. But I want to write about 'Doggie Style' in a different perspective if I may. For those of you who purchased my first book, "Behind My Smile-The Truth about Vickie Garth Robinson," you may remember the writings about my dog named Diamond. Here are a few notations:

"My middle daughter asked me if she could get a dog. I said no way, no how, end of the discussion. This went on for a few weeks until one day this friend of my daughter's brought this little baby pup over so we could see her, she was only four days old. I looked at her quickly and went into the house thinking that the pup would leave with her owner, boy, was I wrong. My daughter kept the puppy against my will. I told her I am not doing any thing for that puppy, she was on her own!

At the beginning of the week, I started my summer shutdown vacation. My daughter had left for work, my son had left for school, and that little pup was outside on the patio crying up a storm. I could not focus, nor could I bear the whimpering cries of the pup. I went outside and picked her up, and she stopped crying immediately. Whenever I put her down, she would start up again. It wasn't long before I was rocking and holding her like a mother would her own newborn baby. I realized she missed her mother. She was a little puppy, and I did not want anything to happen to her.

I asked my daughter to take her back, but she wanted to keep her. So I asked her, "Why did you have to get her on the week that I was going to be off of work?" I think you all know the end of the story; I got attached to this dog. I started to take her to the vet, buy her food, play with her, buy her toys, and other things that I felt she needed. Diamond was loved by not just me, but by the entire family. We all looked forward to seeing Diamond. Yes, as she got older and began to grow, she became a little fierce, but she taught us all another form of love.

I was more connected to her than the rest, because I acted as a mother for her in her early days. She taught me how to throw the 'cool points' out of the window. She taught me how to open up and enjoy the playful side of me; a side that had been snatched away because I grew up too fast. Diamond, I believe was a God-sent awakening for me. I realized the value of life and gained more dependency on God. Just as she was dependent on us for her food, I was dependent on God for our food, because there were days that I barely had enough food to feed my family, let alone a dog.

I never could allow myself to sit inside those four walls and eat knowing that she did not have any thing to eat. Diamond taught me another level of freedom. She broke down the wall of discrimination that I had toward dogs. I now know what it means when someone says that a dog is a man's best friend. Diamond pulled laughter out of me when no one else could. She kept me company when the kids were out and about.

Through the eyes of Diamond I learned more forgiveness, because she tore up some things and I had to be lenient toward her. I learned how to tear up some things and let them go, and just laugh about it. Diamond taught me that yes, I can love again.

I will never forget the sound that I heard on that fateful morning, December 4, 2006. I blamed myself for her death. The night before, my daughter asked me if I wanted her to put Diamond back on her leash, and I said no, I would do it in the morning. 'Let her roam a little bit.' I said.

About 6:00 a.m., I heard a vehicle as it hit our dog Diamond; she is dead. I never thought that I would get attached to a dog and shed tears. It hurt so bad. God allowed her to be in our lives for this short time. We did all we could for her: vaccination, food, shelter and love. It hurts. I stood there on one of the coldest days in December crying over a dog that had brought so much happiness to my life.

I felt that I had let my kids down. I wondered if they would forgive me. I could not eat or think. All I could do was lie down and cry. I kept going to the back door looking for Diamond. I kept going to look in her dog house. I knew she was not there, but I just did it anyway. Every time I heard a dog bark, I found myself running outside to welcome her with open arms. There were days after her death that I heard her bark and I heard movement in her dog house. I cried when I had to dispose of her shampoo, her worm medicine, and her pet toys.

To this day my heart yet longs for her. I have been offered another dog, but I haven't completely gotten over Diamond. One day in the future, I would love to have another dog, but not just yet." (Excerpts from Book One)

The above passage took place in 2006. Now fast forward to 2018. I now have a grand dog named Batman. (in the picture above). I stopped by to see Batman this past weekend and oh the joy he had when I walked in. I forgot about my past hurts of losing Diamond because all I was focused on was the joyful happy dog right there in front of me. He was living in the very moment. He was playful and jumping up and downing, licking me and loving on me. He wasn't holding a grudge or was fearful to kiss me. No, he love me unconditionally because he proved it by his actions. It didn't matter what mood I may have been in, Batman was planting big playful loving kisses all over me. Batman didn't care what I looked like or what I had on, he just loved me as I was.

So what's the takeaway? I'm learning to live life 'Doggie Style'. Enjoy life to the fullest. Live in the moment. Love. Dare. Be Free. Be Loyal. And the one I love the most is Accept Yourself for who you are.