DO BE

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Recently I was walking around the neighborhood park with Franklin and we came across some teenagers I see there frequently. I think they're high school students who relax at the park after school on nice days.

These are nice kids who work hard in school, just like Bert and Ernie when they need to learn something so they can teach children about it.

Franklin loves these kids, and he gave me the look that means, Please, Mom, can we go over there to see them?

So I asked if Franklin could come over to say hello.

They're very friendly, and they said sure.

So we approached them and they started petting Franklin and making a fuss over him as they always do, and he was sniffing them; but I was sniffing something else. And then I saw the joint sitting on the back edge of the bench on which they were seated.

The kids were enjoying a nice fall afternoon by smokin' a doobie.

I didn't say anything, but I felt like it.

I wanted to ask, How bout a toke for an old lady? I even wanted to scold them for not offering to share. Jeeze Louise, what's wrong with kids today?

 But I went on my way quietly. I had no right to give them a verbal paddling, no business expecting them to share. They paid good money for that joint, and I knew I should set a good example by not begging for a little. I shouldn't intrude on someone else's good time. I wouldn't like it if I had a joint and some old woman came by, expecting me to share.

So off I went, behaving myself as always, the picture of uprightness and selflessness, letting the young folks enjoy their good time.

Infinities of love,

Lola

MY FRANKLIN, MY LOVE

Gentle Readers,

At the end of October, it will be one year since Franklin joined our family. He has endeared himself to me in so many ways.

Here's a favorite: When he's really happy, for example, if I've been gone for as long as an entire hour and returned home to his joy-filled greeting, after we kiss and hug and say hello, as I walk through the house, he pushes past the other boys to get to my right side. He takes the fingers of my right hand in his mouth.

He doesn't bite; he doesn't nip.

He simply holds my fingers as if his mouth is the hand he wishes he could place in mine.

He's so happy to see me when I awake in the morning, as if he thought I would remain asleep forever. He got in bed with me once for about 30 seconds. He's never done that again, but when I wake up, he stands up at the side of the bed, tail wagging, tongue outstretched to kiss me good morning, huge smile spreading across his face.

He's incredibly sensitive. If I let even one tear flow, he's next to me immediately with his quizzical look, wondering how he can help.

When we watch a movie or read, he sits next to me. I put my arm around him until his head drops to the arm rest of the chair. Then we gaze into each other's eyes. Then I kiss the white streak on his forehead. Then I kiss his doggie lips. I say, I love you. I look into his eyes some more and feel his love for me.

When I adopted Franklin, I knew he couldn't replace the great love of my life, Faulkner. But Franklin is damn close to Faulkner level. Very damn close.

Franklin and Harper and Scout remind me every single day why Dog is God spelled backwards.

Infinities of Franklin love,

Lola

 Simply irresistible.

A FRANKLIN FIRST

Gentle Readers,

Oh Happy Day! Franklin finally got in bed with me this morning. He didn't stay long, but I hope it was the first of many cuddle times to come. My sleepy eyes were closed, but I knew it was him because of his sweet little kiss and the feel of his soft fur. By the time winter arrives again, I hope every night will be a three dog night.

We also just might know what breed Franklin is. We met two nice ladies at the park who said, He has to be part Bernese Mountain Dog. He looks exactly like one, only smaller. You go home and look up Bernese Mountain Dog and you'll see.

So, being the obedient pup I am, I looked up Bernese Mountain Dog, and Franklin does indeed look like one, but he's half the size or less.

But then Someone I Love informed me about a discovery: The Bordernese. We have decided that Franklin is a Bordernese, a mixture of Border Collie and Bernese Mountain Dog.

But Franklin doesn't care. He knew who he was all along: a good dog who deserves to be loved.

Infinities of love,

Lola

FRANKLIN FRIGHTENED; LOLA PISSED

Gentle Readers,

My dear friend LegalMist recently wrote a post about her experience with The Idiot who hit her car. What happened to LegalMist was much worse than my car being hit twice recently, but last night, something happened that frightened Franklin. The two young men who were involved could have been much worse idiots than they turned out to be.

Franklin and I were out for our evening constitutional when suddenly two young men, about 16 years old, came around a corner on bicycles. One of them came straight at us and then swerved at the last second. Franklin cowered and looked up at me in absolute terror. I don't care that much about my car being hit, but by God, you'd better not frighten my Franklin.

Fortunately, Franklin stayed with me and didn't bolt. Although he's always on a lead, he's so strong that if he really wanted to get away from me or drag me to the ground, he could. But Franklin is such a good dog.

The two butt heads rode away. I was pissed and upset and I shouted, You scared him. That was really mean.

The one who didn't ride toward us shouted back an apology immediately and I heard him tell the other boy, Hey, go back there and apologize to that lady.

The perpetrator returned and said, I'm sorry ma'am.

I thanked him, but I also warned him that it can be dangerous to frighten a dog. Dogs who are upset might chase a rider and bite his penis off before ripping the rest of him to shreds  bite him. Franklin is fast.

I comforted Franklin as much as possible and we continued toward home, but my poor boy was pretty skittish and unhappy. Franklin is old enough that he might not recover completely from his experiences as a stray. However, he's made progress, and I don't want him to lose ground.

So, kids on bikes, go ahead and ride. It's cool. But don't come at my Franklin or you will have one pissed off Lola on your hands and it won't be pretty if it happens again.

I'll tell Favorite Young Man on you.

Infinities of love,

Lola

DOGGIE TOY SNEAKERY

Gentle Readers,

Franklin and I are playing a new game called Doggie Toy Sneakery.

Here's how to play: Leave the back door open because the weather is nice. The dogs can come and go as they please, enjoying their well-fenced back yard.

However, Franklin has a hidden agenda. He takes the doggie toys to the back yard and leaves them there. I bring the doggie toys in and put them on the family room floor.

Franklin takes the toys to the living room, pretending he will play with them there. Then, when I'm not looking, he sneaks them to the back yard.

I sneak them back in and put them in the family room.

This game can continue all day and provides hours of fun.

But somehow, Franklin is winning. He is ahead by two because that's how many doggie toys I can't find.

The dogs are definitely taking over my world.

Infinities of love,

Lola

MY BOYFRIEND

Gentle Readers,

Recently I was having one of my sleepless nights, in spite of being very cozy and comfortable in my bed with Scout at my head and Harper at my back. Franklin, of course, does not sleep in the bed. He prefers a dog bed on the floor although I would love it if he'd join us in spite of the crowding.

Anyhoo, at about 3 a.m. I got up and went in the family room and the boys joined me. We tried reading a bit and watching a bit of a documentary and then I tried to fall asleep in a chair, which sometimes works.

But I couldn't sleep.

Franklin had gone in the office to sleep on the bed. I don't know why he sleeps on that bed (the office doubles as a guest room), but he won't sleep in my bed. I decided to try joining him.

I walked in the room and very tentatively lay me down to sleep next to him. He didn't budge. After a while, I put my hand on his right front paw. A few minutes later, he stretched out his left arm and put his left paw on top of my hand. We fell asleep, holding paw-hands.

Thank you, Franklin.

Infinities of love,

Lola

A NEW FAMILY MEMBER

Gentle Readers,

We have a new family member. His name is Franklin Jr.

That's all I have to say about that.

We'll see how it goes.

Infinities of love,

Lola

P.S. Baby gifts are always welcome, especially cash.