Post by thewisefarmer on Dec 14, 2017 7:26:41 GMT
GIFTS
Shaalu was still a young dog when our puppy named Bethlehem moved in with us, but Shaalu did not like to play. She deemed herself to mature for that (although we think it was actually that she couldn't remember the games, for Shaalu was not a smart dog).
She did have one beloved toy. It was a small piece of cloth that we called "doggie toy". At one time it had been a stuffed dog that had ears and a eyes and ...but over time it had been reduced to a tiny piece of cloth. But like a kid that couldn't sleep without their blankie, Shaalu couldn't sleep without doggie toy.
Every year, on Christmas there was gifts for the critters and Shaalu could barely wait for Christmas morn to open hers. On Christmas day she would play with her new toy until sunset. The day after Christmas, she would not touch the toy and would not play until the next Christmas.
She anxiously waited for Christmas for her joyous annual play day, so even before Christmas, she often would tell me, "I am going to open my gift." A stern look reminded her not to do that.
The stockings were hung. There was one for Mommy, one for the puppy Bethlehem, one for beautiful Shaalu, one for Amissa the cat, and there was even a little one for the fishes. So with the stockings hung and tree trimmed, we all gathered round the big box UPS had delivered. This was the presents from California that had just arrived.
I set each gift under the tree while the dogs and cat watched. Shaalu would explore each gift. "That one is not yours!"
Shaalu knew Grandma would not forget her, so she waited for each gift to be taken out. Then the one marked Shaalu was lifted from the big box. Jumps of joy and barks of delight followed. "Do not open till Christmas" I read to her. Oh what immense disappointment.
The one for Amissa and the one Grandma had sent for the fish; finally, the one for Bethlehem, then several for me. They were all placed under the tree. Shaalu careful helped me place hers there too.
Bethlehem already understood the "leave it" command, but both the dogs wanted to know "When is Christmas?" Seemed a silly thing to have to wait.
The days were marked off the calendar as the blessed day approached. Shaalu would guard the gift with her name on it. Bethy wanted to play and wrapped gifts looked like good toys, but she yielded to the "leave it" command..
Parenting kids that are waiting for the big day is so exhausting. I went into my room to rest.
I heard the sound of wrapping paper being torn. Shaalu knew not to open hers. Shaalu was not smart, but knew a mad mama was not good. I knew she would not open her gift in spite of temptation. Figuring it was Bethy that had the gift, I jumped from my bed.
"Leave it," I yelled as I headed into the living room.
Bethlehem sat obediently awaiting a command from me. Shaalu was the one opening the gift. "Shaalu" I said sternly. She looked up at me with wrapping paper in her mouth
Then I burst into laughter.
Sometimes I wondered if Shaalu was really "dumb" or if she just had us all fooled. Shaalu was not opening her own gift. She sat innocently with a half opened gift in her mouth. It was the gift marked "Bethlehem".
Shaalu was still a young dog when our puppy named Bethlehem moved in with us, but Shaalu did not like to play. She deemed herself to mature for that (although we think it was actually that she couldn't remember the games, for Shaalu was not a smart dog).
She did have one beloved toy. It was a small piece of cloth that we called "doggie toy". At one time it had been a stuffed dog that had ears and a eyes and ...but over time it had been reduced to a tiny piece of cloth. But like a kid that couldn't sleep without their blankie, Shaalu couldn't sleep without doggie toy.
Every year, on Christmas there was gifts for the critters and Shaalu could barely wait for Christmas morn to open hers. On Christmas day she would play with her new toy until sunset. The day after Christmas, she would not touch the toy and would not play until the next Christmas.
She anxiously waited for Christmas for her joyous annual play day, so even before Christmas, she often would tell me, "I am going to open my gift." A stern look reminded her not to do that.
The stockings were hung. There was one for Mommy, one for the puppy Bethlehem, one for beautiful Shaalu, one for Amissa the cat, and there was even a little one for the fishes. So with the stockings hung and tree trimmed, we all gathered round the big box UPS had delivered. This was the presents from California that had just arrived.
I set each gift under the tree while the dogs and cat watched. Shaalu would explore each gift. "That one is not yours!"
Shaalu knew Grandma would not forget her, so she waited for each gift to be taken out. Then the one marked Shaalu was lifted from the big box. Jumps of joy and barks of delight followed. "Do not open till Christmas" I read to her. Oh what immense disappointment.
The one for Amissa and the one Grandma had sent for the fish; finally, the one for Bethlehem, then several for me. They were all placed under the tree. Shaalu careful helped me place hers there too.
Bethlehem already understood the "leave it" command, but both the dogs wanted to know "When is Christmas?" Seemed a silly thing to have to wait.
The days were marked off the calendar as the blessed day approached. Shaalu would guard the gift with her name on it. Bethy wanted to play and wrapped gifts looked like good toys, but she yielded to the "leave it" command..
Parenting kids that are waiting for the big day is so exhausting. I went into my room to rest.
I heard the sound of wrapping paper being torn. Shaalu knew not to open hers. Shaalu was not smart, but knew a mad mama was not good. I knew she would not open her gift in spite of temptation. Figuring it was Bethy that had the gift, I jumped from my bed.
"Leave it," I yelled as I headed into the living room.
Bethlehem sat obediently awaiting a command from me. Shaalu was the one opening the gift. "Shaalu" I said sternly. She looked up at me with wrapping paper in her mouth
Then I burst into laughter.
Sometimes I wondered if Shaalu was really "dumb" or if she just had us all fooled. Shaalu was not opening her own gift. She sat innocently with a half opened gift in her mouth. It was the gift marked "Bethlehem".
