It was over 15 years ago that Bob had gotten a little bonus from work for being not tardy or have taken a day off from his job as a machinist at a large machine shop in Chicago, Illinois. I asked him what did he wanted to do with his "bonus money? Save it or spend it?"
Well, he got a smile on his face and said, "Remember, when we had to put Chi-Chi to sleep?"
"I said of course, I do and....."
"Well, lets get us another doggy to make us happy."
We had gone to the grocery store and there was one of those free papers, where they sell things in them and some jobs.I picked up one up to read when we got home, never thinking anymore what Bob had said. Well, while we were driving home I saw this ad that said pets for sale. Reading down the column I saw this one ad for "Poodles for sale". I mentioned it to Bob and he said well we will just look at that ad when you get the groceries put away.
Hmmmmm! yes sirree Bob! There is was. Sure 'nuff, and Bob said let's go take a look at it.
Well, he sure didn't waste any time getting back in the car and away we did go. It was in a bad neighborhood in Chicago and I thought "Oh Lordy, we might get the dog and have no car when we get ready to go home.
We found the place and rang the bell, and a woman yelled down from upstairs. "Just a minute". She had some kind of problem with her leg she said from at the top of the stairs.
Well, we climbed up to her apartment and there in her small apartment was a dog cage with two poodle puppies. One was all white and the other I think was black. She said some man brought the male dog to a tavern and her husband had the female and they mated them, right then and there. She said she had no papers on them and the dog was $150.00.
Bob put his hand in the cage and the little white puppy licked his hand and he made his decision not even knowing the sex of the Pup. I figured for that kind of money we should have papers and Bob said "Oh heck. We aren't going to breed for puppies or anything like that".
So, he took the puppy and handed her to me and paid the woman. We got our receipt and we came downstairs. We were relieved our car was still intact
and opened the door. I carried this little hunk of humanity home with us to her new home. She was so tiny I wasn't sure how big she would get, but her parents were minatures.
We decided to name her Bambi and Bob and I were in Love with her. It was truly love at first sight. He said that it was the best thing he could get for the $150 he got for not being absent or tardy.
Well, Bob was still working and Bambi and I were pretty tight, but when Bob retired she shared her love with us both. Between you and me she really loved Bob more than she did me, but it made me happy because he was happy. And it was his earned money that he bought her with.
We had 15 wonderful years with that little charmer. She was more human than any of the dogs we had ever owned. When she got sick and I knew she had to go to "doggy heaven", I rocked her in my arms and loved her. I had already decided in my mind that when Bob got up we would have to take her to the vets and put her to sleep.
We took her in a favorite afghan and stayed with her till the end, Bob and I. She was one of the best friends we ever had. We have pictures of her all over the house and in our albums, and we are so grateful we had those 15 years with Bambi.
