The Fence

     In previous posts I have mentioned our friend, Tucker. I would like to take a minute to tell you how we first met the 'gentle giant'.
     We were in the process of beginning our move 'Up North' from the cities. As we sat in our lawn chairs, sipping our coffee early one morning, a beautiful golden retriever suddenly came trotting up our driveway. He greeted us with a big grin. As he looked up at me, I looked into his eyes and heard, "Hi there. I've been so anxious to meet the new people, so here I am."
     From the road we heard, "Come on, Tucker, don't bother them." We quickly assured his owners that he was not bothering us at all.
     In the blink of an eye, Tucker had entered our lives and our hearts. How very fortunate for us, when Tucker stepped into our lives that morning, he also brought our dear friends, Diane and Steve, into our lives.
     On Tucker's daily walk he would always take a detour up our driveway. If we weren't outside he would tromp up the deck steps, sit by the door, and wait patiently to be noticed. This ritual went on for almost five years. Until....
     December of 2009 our dog, Whitney, came into our lives. It was obvious from the start that Whitney had not socialized with other dogs very often. Being that Whitney is a very small dog, I'm sure in her eyes, Tucker is some kind of a huge giant. When he would appear at the door, Whitney would scream. (Scream is not an exaggeration, she really screams.) When Tucker entered the house he would simply step around the screaming Whitney and gave her a look that said, "Good heavens, what is your problem, girl?" (Just an FYI, to this day this still goes on.)
     Our property meets a busy highway, so logically we needed to fence in a section of our yard to keep Whitney safe. The following May, the fence was built. The day that the fence was completed, Tucker happily tromped up the driveway for his daily visit, only to encounter an annoying obstacle in his way, 'The Fence'. He was more than a little miffed by this thing that suddenly appeared and blocked him from his important daily routine.
     Each day he would walk back and forth by the fence, convinced that he would find a way in. No, he didn't like this intrusion on his routine, but he learned to accept it and soon understood that if he patiently waited at the gate, someone would let him in.
     Tucker, you know how much we love you, so I'm sure you understand, 'the fence' is not there to keep you out, but rather to keep Whitney in.

Tucker and Whitney

     So long, I'll see you soon!