Sunday, May 18, 2008

JUNE

Long time readers know that I have 3 children and that my two girls moved out on the same day last year to begin college life.

Junior, was left alone with his Mom and Dad ... not too horrible a situation, but still a big change for him ... and for us.

It wasn't too long after the move out that I started thinking about a pup for Junior.
We have two lab crosses, Flounder and Feather, but they are 12+ years old and sweet as they are, they've slowed down a bit.
Junior was a tyke when they were crazy bouncy pups and at 16, this is his last chance to be a boy with a wacky pup. I did not want him to miss out on that.

His Mom was on the same wavelength and mentioned it (No, No!) to Junior at some point.
Apparently, he had been thinking the same thing.

All year long, he has pushed for getting a pup.
All year long, his Mom has been aiding and abetting.
All year long, I have been saying, "No. Wait until June. In June, Junior and I will be off and we can give a puppy the proper attention and training."

For months now, I have been strong, ignoring the printouts from Petfinder.com that were mysteriously left on the computer desk, ignoring Junior's constant, "Are you getting the pup on the way home today?" comments, and ignoring the newspaper pup adds circled and left in plain view next to the coffee maker.

Yesterday, Mrs. FC and I turned into the Walmart parking lot to buy groceries and a truck was parked next to the feedstore with pups. Around here, that's a common sight and usually they are pitbull pups. Ugh.

I glanced over, "LAB PUPPIES $100", read the sign. What?
I told myself they were probably half lab/ half pit and I was wasting my time, but I spun the JEEP into the feed store lot.

The two ladies had 4 pups and the momma (definitely a lab) in the shade of big oak. One woman sat holding the smallest of the pups who seemed extremely content to be in her lap.

We talked.
The sire was a yellow lab who I actually have seen before as he lives next to my school. The pups showed no sign of anything but lab and the price was right.
We picked out a big footed healthy looking boy and I told the lady, " I'm going to walk next door to the credit union and get $100. We want this one. We have ten acres, two other labs, and will give him a loving home."

She looked at me and said, " Oh, that sounds wonderful ... I'll give you two for that price if you want another one ...as long as you take the runt."
She pointed to the little cutie in the other lady's lap. She got a little misty ...
"I want him to have a good home and I'm afraid no one will want him."

I glanced at Mrs. FC, got the nod, turned and said, " It's a deal."

We skipped grocery shopping, loaded up the pups, and drove home.
In the kitchen, I sat down and sent a one word text message to Junior who was at his friend's house.

"JUNE"

It was 1:27 pm.
At 1:28 pm, Junior called me up.

"Did you just text me? You never text me."
"Yes, I did."
"June?"
"Yes, I wanted you to know it's June."
"What ... OH, OH, YOU MEAN ..."
"Yup, June came early this year."
"OH MAN, I'M COMING HOME!"
"I thought you were going to spend the night."
"Not now, OH MAN ...I'll call you when I'm leaving ... can you pick me up at Otter Creek?
"Just let me know and I'll be there."


Never once was the word "dog" uttered in our conversation.

The bigger of the two pups is the official Junior dog and he has named him "BEAR".

The runt, is still awaiting an official naming session as Emma and Kate want to have input on his name.
That will happen today sometime.


In the meantime, we are basking in the glow of puppy joi de vie, and experiencing a bit of the same.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

-Jonathan

TUFFENUF said...

Beautiful - I think you should name the runt "JUNE".

Juli said...

Congrats on the new family members! They are a couple of lucky pups! (As a side note, I'm very jealous. There WILL be a lab pup in my future... but not until the three "girls" aka, cats, all 13 yrs. old... go on their merry ways.)

What a great day for Junior!! :)

I vote for Lulu as a girl's name. Lulu the little lab.

Anonymous said...

PERFECTION, in every aspect of the word. Just can't have better days than this.

SophieMae said...

Aw, come on, FC... it's no-brainer... the little one's name IS June. 8-]

Was the number 'two' uttered in your conversation?

Anonymous said...

Hey! What's wrong with Pit Bulls? They're big lovey babies, just like Labs, if not forced to be otherwise.

But if you want a Lab, then you gotta get a Lab... or two. :)

The last couple photos are "pure puppy." Just adorable.

MinorcanMeteorolgist said...

I agree with Sophie about the pit bulls. The can be great dogs.
But I am very happy for Junior and those two lucky dogs.
How are Flounder and Feather dealing with the new kids on the block?

Anonymous said...

They are adorable!!!! Good things do come to those who wait, and early at that!!!!!!!!! Lucky dogs! They couldn't have found a more loving family!!!!!!!

Emily said...

I like June for a name, too. My 3-year-old is looking at this and saying that's a black Tebow. Be prepared for the chewed hoses...we fixed three today.

Deb said...

Awww....congratulations on the new additions to the family! And what a great deal!

Anonymous said...

Awww...I don't think I could resist that cute puppy face either. Congratulations on your new furkids!

You are one awesome Dad.

Anonymous said...

Aww, I love the photos! They look so sweet. And I just love reading about your family! Y'all are so good to each other. God Bless!

Anonymous said...

Looks to me like "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

We were waiting "till June" 3 years ago to find a replacement for old friend Max who had died in April. Saw an ad in the paper on the way home from visiting daughter #2, stopped just to look, and made the rest of the trip home with Jack Sparrow, one small black schnauzer kid in the back seat with daughter #3, now 15. It was May 20. June came early that year, too. I spent the last 2 weeks of school dashing home on a 30 minute lunch break to tend to the boy.
PS.Mrs. FC sounds like a peach to me.
Caroline in South Dakota

Anonymous said...

Once again another heartwarming and great story from Pure Florida (with no puns that I could see on first reading).

I know they'll have a good life with you.

Anonymous said...

WOW! That was a steal... Great blog by the way... I stumbled across it one day when I was just surfing the web... Anyway, sounds like ya'll had a good day.

Rurality said...

Cute, cute, cute!

I was sooo jealous of your owls, by the way.

Larry said...

Aw, what a nice puppy story! So pit bulls are common in Florida too! I'm tired of them, as they bark at me while I'm walking Tucker, a German Shepherd/Malamute cross, and I just know someday one of these mean alley pits will break its chain and give Tucker and myself grief. I should start carrying a can of pepper spray!

Anonymous said...

Oh, how sweet. Congratulations! I vote for June as the other pup's name as well. Thanks for the grin. Cute, cute, cute.

Sharon said...

Sa-WEET!!! When I met my hubby, he had a black lab named...BEAR. :)

threecollie said...

PUPPIES!!! Oh, boy, how perfect... a boy, summer, and puppies!!!!Despite the obvious border collie thing we are big black lab fans here.

Susan Humeston said...

I grinned like an idiot through the entire post AND the comments. June it is. How wonderful for all of you - nothing better than labs.

R.Powers said...

Jonathon,
Ya gotta come play with them.

Tuffy,
If he had been a she, but we all felt June was a girl name. Otherwise, I agree with the suggestion.

Juli,
I don't wish your cats any bad luck, but I hope you get that pup!

Freste,
It was very, very good.

Sophie,
No, we kept the 2 factor a secret until he got home.

Susan,
I've known some sweet pitbulls too, but I don't trust their genetics.

HT,
Flounder and Feather are doing great. The pups are in awe of them.

Glo,
You finally left me a comment!!
Hooray!
Thanks for the good luck yesterday!

Emily,
LOL! Yes, we are preparing ourselves and puppysafing the house.

Deb,
Yes! Great additions, but you know all about that.

Dee,
Thanks! I obviously could not resist them ... Lab appeal is very powerful!

Kathy,
Well, we try to be sweet to each other, but we are plenty normal!
:)

Caroline,
I love schnauzers! Terriers were my first dog love.


Pablo,
I think you're right ... I must have forgot to click on puncheck.


FloBird,
Thanks and Welcome to Pure Florida!!

Rurality,
Those owls are so common here, I hesitate to post the "just sitting on a limb" shot anymore. I guess the habitat mix here is just what they want.

Larry,
Very popular.
I just don't trust them ... when they lose it, genetics takes over.


Cathy S,
June is too girly for a boy Lab, doncha think?

Sharon,
Bear is so fitting for a big black lab.

ThreeCollie,
I thought you might be :)


Suze,
I agree.
Glad you got a grin :)

SophieMae said...

June could be short for June-yer maybe. Or Juno. Dawgs don't care. 8-]

kathy a. said...

omg. i can't let my husband see these photos, because he has been begging for a puppy for.... um .... ever. we do have 2 dogs, but he wants a puppy. it is the only thing he ever wants for christmas, birthday, father's day, etc.

anyway -- love your puppies! can't argue with naming the big guy "bear," or with "june" for the little one. but that little one needs a formal name -- perhaps something along the lines of "sir junius the magnificent?

kathy a. said...

p.s. -- my blind rescued cat is formally known at the vet as "the duke of earl." informally, he is just "earl." but he is one of the goofiest and most loving cats ever.

Anonymous said...

Fc you never seize to make me smile with your blogs. Just when I thought might think about a hammock. You give yourself two more reason not to take a rest. Good luck and lot’s of love with your new addition’s to the family. S T E B PS give little gye some nobility .I like the sir thing

Anonymous said...

Haha. Junior would be perfect for June. And I don't think it has to be a girls name. I seem to reclaim some Julius in my acquaintance called June.

billg8tr said...

Great job on the puppies. I have a chocolate lab named "Brownie", how original. He was a present for our children year before last. Needless to say he spends his time in my lap when I am home. I am a little worried though. These two that you got look like they could catch a chicken or two.

Anonymous said...

Junius, perhaps... Or Junebug for the runt... We have a (mostly) lab who is about a year old, and still nearly all puppy! When do they grow out of that, age 10? ;)
Chris-

PS Happy Almost Summer from a fellow teacher!!!

jojo said...

congratulations!!!! but photos? only 3? c'mon... get to snapping more my goodness you can't say puppy and then only take 3 photos.

and tell me is everyone just as madly in love with puppy breath as i am?

:)

swamp4me said...

You're killing me here...I have vowed NOT to get another dog when my beloved 14 year-old Hannah departs this world. (She is a lab/golden cross and is a most excellent being.)

So, what do Flounder and Feather think of the two pups?

R.Powers said...

Sophie,
Too late ... he's got a name!

Kathy A,
Get that guy a puppy!
You'll be the heroine.

STEB,
Thanks! No resting around here now!!

Cathy S,
June has an official name now.
Soon TBA.

Billy,
The runt has the chicken fever already. I think Flounder taught him.

Chris,
Yes, happy almost summer!
My 12+ labs haven't outgrown it, they just do everything slower.

Jojo,
I'm thinking of a separate photos only site to document these puppies.
I hear ya.

R.Powers said...

Swampy,
It was a time thing with a rapidly growing boy.
The big dogs are adjusting well.
Feather is tolerant, but Flounder is just thrilled.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't home all day, so I missed this post! OH MY!!!!!! This is great news!!

R.Powers said...

Laura,
I thought you'd like a lab pup post!