My Unorthodox Summer Love Story

Most summer love stories begin with trips the beach, Saturday night dancing, and vacation trip romances. This one is just a little different.

My summer love began with the end of a terrible, misguided and much mistaken divorce. My husband and I had been through much together in 4 l/2 years, and because of stress and strain, our marriage fell apart. I found myself with two girls, ages 4 and l, working long hours just to feed the three of us. All of my time was taken up so there was no time for a relationship of any kind other than the friendships that were building with my co-workers and my neighbors. (We relocated across the USA to be closer to my family, which meant starting over with work, locating a new place to live, and meeting new neighbors.)

One day while sitting at work reading the Classifieds in the local paper (in June) I saw an ad for a Lhasa puppy. The ad stated that it was a female, the runt of the litter, and the price was $200. Now, there I sat with no extra cash and no extra time, but thought maybe the kids would benefit from a puppy in the house. Ok - blame it on the kids - I kind of wanted a puppy too, but knew that I shouldn't even consider getting one because of finances and also not having time to train one. Brave me, I decided I'd just go look - so I called the woman that placed the ad and set up a time to go by her house. My Mom said she'd watch the girls in the event I didn't want this puppy, so as not to get them excited, and then let them down. With it being the runt I was afraid there could be something wrong.

So, time to go - dropped the girls off at Moms, and drove to the owners' home, knocked on the door, and was immediately invited in by a very warm, welcoming lady. I sat down at her table, placed my oversized handbag on the floor, and we talked like we were old friends. She also was divorced with two children, trying to make ends meet. When I noticed 20 minutes had passed I asked her where the puppy was, as I needed to probably hurry to pick up my children. She began to laugh and said "look at your purse". I leaned back and looked to the floor, and there inside my handbag was the littlest furry ball, with two black eyes, and the sweetest overbite I'd every seen. Snuggled in my handbag!! I reached down and picked her up, placing her on the floor. She immediately turned and crawled back up into my handbag and lay down.

Ok. I'm weak! Of course she left with me! I immediately named her Maddie, and she was the love of my life! Better than an ex-husband, boyfriend, or best friend. She was my Maddie. She asked nothing but food and snuggling. She traveled everywhere with my girls and I. She shared turkey sandwiches with the girls, loved chewing bubble gum, and slept with all 3 of us. I have only happy, loving memories for my dearest pooch, my summer love.

Well, the story almost ends here - 4 l/2 years of joy - and Maddie met with an early, heartbreaking death. She was buried in the woods where we lived and she loved to run, buried with her collar and bell on. The next morning, me still crying, I stepped outside to see the collar and bell laying by the door. I immediately ran to see if her grave had been disturbed by another animal, but it hadn't. I have no good reason why her collar and bell were then, other than to say I believe her little spirit brought it back for me. The best part of this story is I know I was Maddies summer love too.... maybe not the human kind of love story, but certainly the best!