Wiggles.
There are not too many things that stick with you for 15 years apart from parents, baby weight, and regrets. While she might not have been by my side for all 15 years, my childhood dog was just put to sleep this past Monday. It wasn’t as hard as it could have been, as I was 350 miles away in my own town. Wiggles was a loyal dog who stayed with me through horrible hair cuts, lazy afternoons, and packing for college. I only lived at home for 4 years with Wiggles and then moved away only to come home on short breaks. I always knew that even if my mom and dad didn’t greet me at the door, Wiggles would. She was always happy to see me, smell my dirty college laundry, and then bury herself in my clean clothes when they came out of the dryer. While my parents discouraged it, Wiggles always knew that she could sleep in my bed whenever I was home. She would sleep under my covers right by my legs and when she got too hot, she’d come up from under the covers and put her head right next to mine on the pillow.
I always promised her that my next dog would be named Fritos....because when Wiggles slept, she smelled like those little corn chips. I’m not sure why, but I always thought that’s how she smelled. But then we got another dog so that Wiggles would have a friend...and to my dismay, my mom named him Raindrop instead of my promised name of Fritos. Wiggles always seemed annoyed by Raindrop’s presence, even though they were good friends, I’m sure she was just mad that his name wasn’t Fritos.
I remember hot summer days in our backyard pool. Wiggles would walk the edge of the pool and sometimes she would fall in. We would put her on a float and push her around the pool. She would go around a few times, then make her way back to the deck. Wiggles was always protective. Any time we would go underwater, she would bark until she could see our heads pop up for air. She loved birds and going for walks. She never wanted to be leashed...she wanted to be free and explore.
As I start my 30’s, it starts with a lot of newness. I continue to see new ways that I’m growing up, moving on, and seeing how the past has shaped me to be who I am today. I loved Wiggles and will remember her as a constant in my life from the age of 15-30. I’ve heard of many people who will go and get a dog within a week or two of the death of their pet. I can understand that now. I can see how that “constant” is gone, and the need to fill the void becomes valid. And it’s not to say that you have to “replace” your pet with a new one, but the need to have another “constant” walking with you through life’s bad haircuts, lazy afternoons, and welcome home greetings.
And maybe that next “constant” will be called Fritos.
