Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Chipper II

Chipper II, not one, but II, was a sweet little thing. I didn’t know that would be his name when I met him. I babysat for my teenage living and he was the last of the litter that my employers couldn’t rid themselves of. He was a golden shade and a fluff ball and I fell in love with him.

The only other dog during my lifetime that we had owned was Rinny. My sister bought him for us. A shepherd and he was a good dog which we all shared but Chipper II, not one, was to be mine.

Knowing full well that I was going to have a hard sell I took him home only to hear that I had to convince my Dad for Mom was not sure if I should have him. Dad arrived home and immediately said, He reminds me of Chipper. Who’s Chipper? And the story began, he was Mom and Dad’s first dog in Western Springs, and what a dog. He was so smart and gentle and would let my sister stand on hi in the car. Occurring before seat belt laws and other such ordinances and before I was born. He was golden in color.

So there we have it Chipper II became our pet. His golden looks did buy him a sentimental shoe-in into our home. He was a precocious little thing. Children’s gates came out across the doorway in the kitchen at night. Barricaded as he was he would find a means to get over the gate. Dad was his night time keeper. A challenge was on. And we would discuss the many options to keeping Chipper penned in at night. It was such fun to come home to him in the afternoon and Dad and I would talk about training the dog. As he got bigger Dad would let him out by himself in the back yard – he was terribly proud of how quickly he responded to a summons home. But one night – I’m not sure how – Chipper didn’t come home. Checks throughout the neighborhood came to naught. Dad often told me he thought someone stole him for he was so beautiful. I never was sure how he came to have time enough to go too far. Chipper II had a short stay in our lives but meant so much.

Looking back I know why Chipper was here. I remember 3 or 4 times where my father and I completely connected and Chipper was one. We bonded through our love for this troublesome bundle of puppy love. We were a team, Dad doing late night duty for me and me working at learning to train a dog.

Today, the family kids me. Dad has been dead several years and Mom and Steve do not remember Chipper II. We jest about whether Chipper II was around or not and through repetition it has become a great joke. Such comments as Chipper II might be listening or was that when Chipper II was here? My family’s skepticism of the life of Chipper II doesn’t matter. For me, I sense my father with us as we laugh about the existence or non-existence of Chipper II. Our connection survives throughout time.