Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 64

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:

More on the Dogs …

We didn’t have any of the adopted dogs very long because they were older to begin with, and some had health problems. We don’t plan to adopt pets again. Even under the best of circumstances, Great Danes are relatively short-lived, and one never knows what the dog’s life was like before someone like us adopts him.  The reason so many Danes are up for adoption is that some people buy them because they’re lovable and gorgeous, but they have no idea how big these dogs get, and they can’t manage them.  We still call them all Gentle Giants.

Sammy, the black Standard poodle, who is still with us, has been one of our best pets; we got him through an ad in a Beckley newspaper. We picked him out on January 15, 1989 from a liter of Shirley C’s, in Pineville, West Virginia.  He’s an alert and diligent watchdog, although his hearing and sight are failing now, he’s a dear little friend, and Dave remembers Erik and Sammy, too, covering every inch of this place together. Sammy has good manners, is good with kids, and is very intelligent.  He looks intently into our faces and I believe he understands English. He’s always there: on the bed, on the couch, nearby outside, a faithful companion.

One of his favorite commands from Dave is, “Sammy, let’s get memorized.” (not a typo; he said “memorized.” Dave often deliberately corrupts our mother tongue.)  Then Dave says, “Assume the position,” and Sammy gets up close to the couch, then Dave lifts him up and turns him over on his back right next to Dave. Sammy likes this, getting his tummy rubbed, and that’s how Sammy becomes “memorized” (mesmerized).

The Good Samaritan & the Intelligent Dog

Sammy’s mother, a solid white poodle, may have saved her owner’s life.  Mrs. C’s car went off the road over a bank one rainy night, went all the way down to the bottom. One of the doors flew open and her poodle managed to get out of the car and climbed up the steep and slippery bank to the road, sat on her “haunches” and “waved” to passersby by moving her front legs back and forth.  A young minister interpreted the meaning of the dog’s behavior, stopped his car, and followed the dog down to the bottom. Mrs. C. was just starting to crawl up the muddy bank, the young man helped her, and put her and her dog in his car and drove the lady to the hospital. The tragic ending to this story: Two or three years later, the young minister, driving on the same road, died in a car accident very close to where Mrs. Campbell went over the side.

To be continued…

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About the Author: RD Blakeslee (1931 – 2024) built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family