My Story of Chili the Dog

This is the story of Chili the dog. She had many names, Chili, Chiquita, Kita, Chewy, and Chewy-Dog. I decided to write this little memoir about Chili, because Aug. 26th is National Dog Day. Also because when I look at her picture in the frame, it makes me smile and it makes me miss her. Chili died about 4 years ago.

Chili was a Shepherd mix, but we always called her a Dingo! She was a very special dog who was a part of my life every day for 4 years, and then on and off for years after that. Even after I lost her in my every day life, I still cared about her and thought of all the funny stories she provided me over the years.

Chili had a little buddy named Pepper the dog. She and Pepper loved playing fetch and really loved dog treats. They were inseparable, except when Chili was being mischievous and doing something bad. To look at Chili's smile, you would never peg her to be the kind of dog that might get into your one print only baby pictures and chew them up. However, she did just that to my baby pictures and some childhood pictures she got a hold of, thus her nickname, "Chewy".

I won't pretend I wasn't crazy mad when I found out about the pictures. Chili was lucky someone else found them first, hid them, and then waited for just the right moment to spring the bad news on me. I ignored her for a week, but how could I hold a grudge against the dog? She seemed remorseful, so I let it go.

Then one day my friend and I were walking back from the community mailbox, and Chili bolted out the door to greet me. Boy did she greet me. She never slowed down and ended up knocking both my legs out from under me. I fell flat into the gutter for the entire world to see, or at least the whole neighborhood. My friend who was with me starting laughing hysterically, before realizing I was actually hurt. I sprained my knee and was all scraped up and bruised, and embarrassed beyond belief. Oh, Chili, Chili, I thought the dog loved me, but I was having doubts. I forgave her again.

One evening I was making my bed, and for reasons still unknown, Chili came running into my room. I was leaning over the bed, turned my head in her direction and watched helplessly as her skull collided with mine. She literally had leaped up and bashed her head into my head. It knocked both of us silly! I fell onto the bed feeling dizzy and later discovered my slightly blackened eye. Chili was knocked onto the floor and was lying on her back looking like she saw stars. I was in pain, but I was still concerned about Chili and whether she was ok. We both survived with ice packs and rest and after all those incidents, I'm still convinced that dingo dog loved me as much as I loved her. That's my story of Chili, one of my favorite dogs ever. Hope you enjoy the picture of Chili and the one of her friend Pepper..they are compliments of my friend Lori.