Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Salty Dog

Isn't funny how people tend to test drive their parenting on pets? Whether we're conscious of it or not, it happens. And oh did we ever spoil this mutt rotten. He's been gone a year now, and lived a full, happy 14 years on this planet. But we miss him so.
(The happy family in The Bahamas PZ: Pre-Zach)

We've considered getting another dog, but with the plan of sailing away soon on the horizon we resist the urge. You see once upon a time he was our baby. We sailed around with this sweet mutt and from the photos you'd hardly think we were even there. It was like Schooner's excellent adventure on the high seas.





It was fun, but now with a real child on board, we know better than to take on the chore of caring for a pet while cruising. I've often thought of writing some childrens stories about Schooner's exploits. Taking a bus tour in the Exumas with his own seat. Swimming from the Malecon in Havana. Sleeping on the steps of the Museum of the Revolution. Stripping the husks from coconuts with his teeth. Falling into alligator infested waters at night in the Carolina swamps. Chasing the waves on white sand beaches. And all the while dragging that bedraggled teddy bear with him everywhere he went.

 Deep inside, I have this feeling that a dog will find its way into our lives again. He'll find us when the time is right.

(Last few weeks as King. Schooner getting the talk about the baby in my big belly)


6 comments:

Positively Orphaned said...

He is so sweet dragging that teddy bear around. We have a wonderful 16 lb. mixed breed dog named Scooch who came sailing with us for 3 months in the Caribbean. Never could get him to just lift a leg and pee overboard, so we ended up taking him to shore 4-5 times a day which was a bit of a pain. Adopted him when he was 8 and now he is 12. Thanks for sharing about Schooner - what a love.

Holly @ Domestic Dork said...

That would make an EXCELLENT children's book!!! DO IT!

Little Lovables said...

how sweet! what an amazing and adventurous dog.

Linda said...

Such a beautiful dog, he reminds me of our Oscar who is no longer with us...

boatbaby said...

Positively Orphaned - Schooner would never lift a leg on board either, so I feel your pain. That's why despite our yearning for another dog, we're holding off knowing we plan to cast off again in the not too distant future.

boatbaby said...

Holly - thank you for the encouraging words! you should be a life coach :)

Little Lovables - he was a fabulous mutt!

Linda - sorry about your Oscar, so hard to lose a pet isn't it? There's no way not to get so attached.

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