Week 10:
65. Another interesting place that you’ve lived.
66. When you were growing up, did your family members (not your immediate family, but aunts and uncles) have pets that you remember?
67. Do you remember the first time you ever rode a Ferris Wheel? Where were you? What was it like?
68. What is one book that you remember reading with a parent? Was it your favorite? Why or why not.
69. Describe the first time that you went camping. Where was it? Who went with you? How old were you?
70. What is one of the most amazing places that you have ever gone on vacation? Describe that trip: who did you go with, where did you go, how old were you?
71. What is some of the best advice that you have ever received?
I've been thinking a lot lately about my maternal Aunt's pets. When we were growing up, my sister and I spent a lot of time at my Grandparent's house - and so did my Aunt's pets. When she would go to work, she would bring them over to my Grandparents.
When I was younger, she had two parakeets named Bonnie and Clyde. In my child mind, they seemed to be fixtures outside of time and space - I can't remember when they first appeared or when they disappeared (i.e. died). They would sit on the front porch in their cage, taking in the nice Texas spring and summer weather. When she got off of work, she would come and pick them up.
I had forgotten about them, until the other day. After the era of Bonnie and Clyde was over, a new pet arrived. This time, it was A PUPPY! A little Dachshund. My sister and I were pretty excited about her (we had only had cats in our house). Our Aunt named her Joey Heatherton (I was convinced that she was named after me, but I was quickly corrected ;) ).
Joey would come to Grandma and Grandpa's house every day. We would all go on walks together. As Joey got older, she had to make sure she was eating her veggies - so my Grandmother would fix her a plate of veggies EVERY DAY for lunch (the same thing that my grandparents ate). She ADORED my Grandfather. I remember being afraid of her (we weren't around dogs very much) and my Grandfather showed us that she was well behaved by making her jump up in the chair next to him and get onto his lap.
My Aunt would come pick her up from Grandma and Grandpa's house when she got off of work. Joey would drape herself across my Aunt's shoulder's like a scarf to ride home.
Bonnie and Clyde, and later Joey were permanent fixtures in our young lives. Joey passed on this year, but she left behind a lot of memories :) Now, being the parent of a furry child myself (HE IS SO CUTE!! - and yes, that is a blatant brag), I know how much joy pets bring to your life. I would have to say that my Aunt's pets have been pretty significant little beings in my life.