Priceless

I overheard Dad and Mom talking about the operation to remove my missing testicle. They said I was doing a lot better. I'm still sore, especially when I just get up to walk, but I've got a good appetite now and except for my ridiculous hair cut, I'm looking good (if I say so myself). I would rate my doctor's as very good, except his hair cutting talent. They made me look like I ran into a large lawnmower.

What would Mom and Dad miss if I wasn't here anymore? Plenty!!!

Well, Dad was saying how the operation cost about $2000 in human paper money (including all the driving he had to do) and how many things he would have to delay buying because of it. It made me feel pretty bad that I deprived Dad of his new camera (poor guy only has 4 or 5 of them now). But don't get me wrong. Dad wasn't really complaining, just stating the facts about the consequences of Dr. Joe in Nederland NOT removing that testicle 8 and a half years ago.

So, I began thinking about what Dad and Mom would miss without me. It kinda made me feel good to know that I may have earned that $2000 and maybe quite a bit more.

Mom would be real Fat if I didn't take her on a daily walk.

What would Dad and Mom do if they didn't have ME to walk thousands of paw lengths or more per day (in human distances, that's 3 to 5 miles per day). Dad would look like a rolley poley ball and Mom would probably match him. Does Dad and Mom know how much it costs to go to human gym clubs? They should think about the amount of human paper dollars I've saved them each year just by keeping them exercising daily. Not to mention how many human years I've help add to their lifetime. What a deal! What's the value to Dad or Mom of living another 5 to 10 years? Priceless!

Dad would die early without those early morning walks with me. Notice our shadows on the other bank?

How do you put a price on the happiness that we've given each other? Every morning when I greet Dad and Mom in their bed and wag my tail and cry with joy, that's priceless!

Does Dad know how lucky he is to have ME, a dog, instead of a lazy cat to walk? Yesterday we saw a man "walking" his cat on a leash. The cat was lying down taking a long rest. For 10 minutes the man stood watching his cat lying down. What kind of walk is that? Dad, you should be proud and happy that I'm not a cat. Priceless!

Who would chase away those big ugly cows when we are traveling. ME, that's who.

Who would protect Dad and Mom from all the huge cows we see along the road as we drive? I bark and chase them away. They have never attacked us once. I can imagine the mess those cows would make in our motorhome if I wasn't there to chase them away. Priceless!

Dad might crash the motorhome if he didn't have ME as an excuse to stop at rest stops along the road. We stop to let me pee, but it really allows Dad to rest from the driving. What price is there on NOT crashing your motorhome? Huh, tell me! Priceless.

Who would be friends with Mom and Dad without ME? No ONE!

Mom and Dad, think of all the people I have introduced you to. You wouldn't have good friends like Steve, Karen and Casey without ME. In fact, I doubt anyone would be friends with you without me. Everyone stops at our motorhome to say hi to me. What price on good friends? Priceless!

What price does Mom place on just one lick in the face from me? Priceless!

Is there a price to the relief of stress you feel when you see me sleeping, or when you pet me? I don't think so. Priceless.

Who would Mom and Dad impress if they didn't have me to do my treat-tossing trick for their friends. When Dad places that treat on my nose and gives me a signal, it disappears into my mouth in an instant. He looks so proud and his friends clap and laugh. Priceless.

Who would snoop out the rare and exotic wildflowers without me? No ONE!

Who would protect Dad from the Bears when he photographs the wildflowers in Idaho? Dad would probably be eaten by the Bears if I didn't keep a sharp eye out for them. Priceless!

I watch out the windows on Dad's photo trips so we can get home without getting lost. Dad would be lost without ME!

Who would go with Dad on his photo trips and keep him company and help him find his way home? Mom doesn't go with him. A cat would shun his suggestion. Nope. It's ME again. I look out the window and make sure the animals don't attack us. I also keep track of the smells so we can get back if his GPS machine doesn't work. Priceless!

Who would protect Donna on her late night walks around the RV Parks? No one (but me)!

Who would dust the motorhome without my tail swishing back and forth all the time? Huh? I bet dust would pile up to the ceiling without my swishing tail. Priceless!

Who would let Mom and Dad know that someone was at the front door of the motorhome, or that a strange Dog was approaching the motorhome, without ME? Who would notify Mom when a dog appeared on the TV without me? Nobody. Priceless!

Who would protect the motorhome home in the dark and scary nights? I watch all night with my keen sense of awareness and make sure Mom and Dad know if someone tries to come into our motorhome at night. Priceless.


Also, who would protect Mom at night when she takes a walk in the middle of night? No one but ME again! Priceless!

Well, I hear that it is not human-like to praise yourself. I'm not human like, I'm a dog and have every right to say what I think about myself, right! So, you understand what I'm saying. I'm pretty valuable to Mom and Dad and without me, well, I shudder to think what they would be like.

All those future memories would be gone! Remember me as a puppy. I was so cute...

You also wouldn't have all the good memories and photographs yet to come when we can go out sniffing for squirrels and wildflowers, and all the mornings I wake you with my muffled cries. You'd still have my puppy memories, but there are many more to come. Could you put a price on those? Priceless!

All those future photographs without me? Nope. You'd need me!

Besides, who would write this blog?

Thanks to all of you that have wished me well in my recovery. I'm sure your wishes have helped me heal quickly. I'm hoping to be like my old self real soon (minus an overgrown testicle and missing some beautiful hair.)

Arf

Reggie