Carrie Link

OF COURSE IT IS

First it was Michelle O'Neil's fault, then it was Monica Holloway's fault. Dogs. We're talking about dogs here.

A little about me. I'm not a dog person. I would have a cat in a minute but all three other inhabitants of this home are allergic. So, no cat. Dogs need walking. Dogs have muddy paws. Dogs shed. Dogs like to lick you and rub up against you, and I'm not a touchy feely kind of person. I like my personal bubble and it's generous in its size. Dogs invade my personal bubble. My personal bubble is all that keeps me on this side of sane some days.

The other inhabitants ARE dog people and would have one in a minute. I get four votes to their three, however, as we all know to whom all responsibility for a dog would fall. And so, we do not, have never, and will never get a dog.

Right?

So on Tuesday we're sitting with the behavioral/developmental ped. with whom we've shared our story for twelve years, and he says, pointing at Rojo, "Ever think of getting this guy a dog? This guy needs a buddy."

As I protested he smiled knowingly. He listened to my many, many, many reasons why we could not possibly get a dog, and he said, "You're right. But the right dog would take 10% and give 90%. The right dog would make your life easier, not harder. The right dog would free up your time, not create more work for you, especially if the dog was Rojo's responsibility."

The doc suggested a labradoodle both because of how smart they are, and the no shedding thing. I didn't even know they made such a thing as a no-shedding dog. Brilliant. I told him I knew of a family with both a special needs boy about Rojo's age, and a labradoodle, and I would agree to talk to them about it. Then I agreed I would consider it.

Just consider it.

So, the very next day I pick up Woohoo from school early (finals), and we head over to New Seasons before picking up Rojo. We run into a dear friend of ours, she was actually Woohoo's 8th grade mentor for a special independent learning project. We're chatting it up in the narrow aisle of New Seasons, and who walks in? Go ahead, guess. Oh, yea, the mom with the special needs son and the labradoodle. Of course these two women are friends, and we all four chat, making it impossible for anyone at New Seasons to shop without going around us, and so that's just what we do, make them go around us.

I say to Friend #2, "I can't believe you just walked in the door, you're on my To Talk To list. Rojo's doctor wants us to get him a labradoodle."

Friend #2 proceeds to give me 101 reasons why that's the best idea since sliced bread. Friend #1 says, "That's the kind of dog we have, too!" I can't believe it as I've seen both dogs and they look nothing alike. Then I'm informed of the three different sizes, and how Friend #1 has a mini, and Friend #2 has the largest size. Plus there are lots of colors, etc., and for anyone, like me, with an untrained eye, they look like different types of dogs, but of course, they are not. They're the same.

And we're all together within 24-hours of the discussion. The only two friends I know with this type of dog, two of the most invested in our family friends I have, and there they are. Manifested.

So Friend #1 says, "There are two great places to get labradoodles in Oregon, we got ours from Labradoodle Angels.

"Mom, ANGELS! You collect ANGELS! It's a sign!" Woohoo says to me, as I both wish she weren't standing here getting her hopes up, and glad she is.

We eventually say goodbye to Friends 1 and 2 and Woohoo says,"Mom, it can't be an accident that we ran into BOTH of them at the SAME time, and they BOTH have labradoodles. Don't you think?"

Yes. I think.

So we go home, I dump Woohoo and am getting ready to head out to get Rojo, and she calls from behind her computer, "MOM! OMG, MOM! Guess what? Guess what one of the puppies is named! Guess!"

"I don't know," I say, "Woohoo?"

"No!, MARY! M-A-R-Y! It's another sign!"

And I'm sure it is. I'm sure Mary is messing with me again. And I've agreed to go down this path a little further, warning everyone involved that I reserve the right to turn around at any point.

But still. C'mon. What are the chances?

Photo from: www.gorgeousdoodles