Skittles

Sunday, January 29, 2012

THERE is a story of group of people who were in a group discussion. A question was asked, who showed you love the most. Of course, there were the common answers like my spouse, my kids, my parents and friends. They were having a lively discussion and everyone was participating except one old lady who was just listening and smiling. The group turned to her and they asked her, who loved you the most. The old lady replied, I cannot tell you who loved me the most but I can tell you who loved me without condition. Who, the group asked? The old lady answered with two words: my dog.

They all laughed and asked how can a dog love you, and love you without condition? She replied well, every time I come home from work, my dog would always rush up to greet me. She would wag her tail and bark. Whatever happened that day, my dog without condition would welcome me, would rush up to me. She was truly happy when she saw me. And so was I. She loved me without asking for anything in return. And she loved me every day. She never asked questions or demanded anything. She was there when I wanted to talk someone and she would just listen to me, without judging, without condemning. She accepted me for who I am and she loved me for who I am. There was silence after that.

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Skittles was our Labrador. She died January 25. She was eight years old. We will miss her.

Skittles was a very friendly dog as most Labs are. She was a big dog with a loud bark and that is why when visitors came to the house, they were somewhat intimidated with Skittles because of her bark and size. When the doorbell would ring, Skittles would rush to the gate. We had to restrain her not because she would bite or attack but because she was so friendly she would jump at the visitor and try to befriend the rather frightened person. We had to tell her to stop doing that. She did, much to the relief of the person.

When Skittles was young, she almost died because she ate a poisoned rat. We had to bring her to the vet to have her examined. We had her x-rayed together with human beings. I remember sitting in the X-ray room. I was holding Skittles. The funny thing was she was the only dog in the room. When the attendant started calling names, my wife and I were laughing. Pedro, Maria, Rose, Maria? Skittles. I remember throughout the whole time, Skittles just sat there, perhaps wondering what she was doing there.

Because of that incident, Skittles would never bear puppies. So all our hopes for a liter of puppies were dashed. As a consequence, Skittles died a virgin.

During Christmas, we had to hide Skittles because someone in our home, for some strange reason, wanted to install reindeer horns on her. I guess Skittles got hold of that bit of news that after awhile, when Christmas came, Skittles would be in hiding.

There was a phase in her life when the only thing she wanted to eat was rice with gravy. So every time, we went to the grocery my wife would always say, yung gravy ni Skittles ha. Then there was the rice gravy and dog food value meal if you want to put it that way.

Skittles also must have had an identity crisis. She thought she was some other animal because right after every bath, she would scrounge up some dirt, make a hole on the ground and just dive in. She would just stay there with her head resting on the edge of the hole.

Oh! there are so many stories, so many memories of Skittles.

She was a good dog. Friendly, cheerful, no that is not it. She was a happy dog who brought happiness to our home.

Skittles was our Labrador. She died January 25. She was eight years old. We will miss her.