This is my darling Vicky, taking a nap on my handwritten first draft of Our Fathers. We adopted her and Bailey, who would not sit and join her for this picture, in December of 2012. My sister had been talking about adopting a dog for the longest time, and convinced my parents to go down to a local shelter. Meanwhile, I was in one of the most depressing times of my life. I went along with the second trip, as my mother thought I needed to get out of the house and that puppies would help.
Vicky was the skinniest thing you had ever seen. The shelter had found her on the streets a week before. She was so timid and liked sitting off by herself. When I went over to her, she just sat by my side and rested her head on my leg. She kept right next to me the entire time...well, until the staff brought along food. While I sat with her, my sister fawned over Bailey, who was a newborn little fluff ball that fit in the palm of your hand. My mother and sister couldn't decide which dog to get, all while I sat on the floor with Vicky. I'll admit, that first day all I wanted to do was go back home and cry. I had just been dumped, lost my job, suffered another rejection letter. But Vicky sat by me and didn't leave.
The next day, the whole family went back to the shelter. We didn't know which dog we were getting, but that we had to make a choice before someone else adopted one of them. I remember walking back into the area housing all the dogs. Vicky was lying down in the back, hiding from all the other people. When I stepped into the room, her head jumped up and she ran over to the door. She started bouncing around until I came over and rubbed her little head. My mom started laughing that she recognized me, and I knew it was true. Vicky wanted me. So I picked her up and carried her to the counter. We all still loved that little fluff of a baby, so my parents decided to just throw everything to the wind and get both.
All while filling out the paperwork, buying food and toys and beds, I didn't put Vicky down. She kept her head on my shoulder until we got into the car, where she curled up on my lap until we got home. After trotting around the house with joy, Vicky resumed her place curled up at my side. She and I are inseparable.
Why interrupt my normal talks about writing for a tale of adopting my little puppy? Because as an author, life can be lonely. Not everyone is cut for loneliness, and I am one of those people. It's also a life of rejection and hardships which can be hard to endure all by yourself. Vicky and Bailey are my current support team. They provide plenty of cuddles and kisses when I am sad. They also force me to get up and go outside.
Please do not take this as me being one of those people who only live for their pets. Yes, they are my babies and I love them to death. They have helped me through a lot of dark times when I struggled to explain to people what I feel about my writing and other things. I've gotten to the point where I stop telling people when the rejections come in because I'm tired of the same responses. This isn't ingratitude for their comments, just that I know after all these years it's subjective and there will be hundreds more rejections than acceptances and I need to keep carrying on. I've only had one boyfriend who didn't respond that way, and it was absolutely perfect.
My thoughts have gotten away from me again. The point is that everyone needs someone to stand by them. And I thank God every day for giving me these two fluff balls.
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