Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Thursday, September 5, 2013

Phil

Okay. Picture him even smaller and glued to a dog...
Phil was a tiny boy.
Not yet two.
With the dubious honour of being both the youngest of the ‘Three Musketeers’ and of his family of seven.
He had been dropped off at Auntie and Uncle’s place for a few days while Mom and Dad took a brief holiday.
For the first few minutes, he followed sisters and brothers around the unfamiliar house, whimpering and trying to make sure they didn’t disappear.
Like his parents had done.
Then he saw his Auntie’s three Old English Sheepdogs.
Tears were forgotten as his face brightened.
His small world . . . changed.
For the next two days, Phil attached himself, quite literally, to the big male, Chiefy.
Whom, in his baby way, he thought was called ‘Chiefy-Sit’.
During that time, whenever Chiefy moved, it was with two small hands clutching fistfuls of long, grey hair and a little man toddling along as fast as he could, babbling, “Chiefy-Sit! Chiefy-Sit!”
When Chiefy finally did ‘sit’, Phil would pounce on him. Burying his little face in the soft, gray hair.
If Phil was distracted and moved away, Chiefy followed.
When the little boy slept in his crib, it was with one small hand through the bars, still clutching the long, soft hair.
They were quite literally, inseparable.
It was a short, sweet, two days.
But it ended.
Phil’s family moved away and visits were few and far between.
He grew up and Chiefy grew old.
They never saw each-other again.
Moving ahead twenty-plus years . . .
Tomorrow, my Husby and I are travelling down to Portland, Oregon.
We are going there to witness Phil and his bride marry.
He’s all grown up now.
But when I see him, I will be thinking of that little boy.
And his short-term furry best friend.
It will be a wonderful, happy time.
I can feel the tears already . . .


14 comments:

  1. Yes, you will cry, because it will be a most wonderful day. Now you will have another memory to tuck away in your heart. Congratulations to the happy couple.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember the time Erik put him up on his shoulders. Little Phil had never been up so high! I thought his eyes were gonna pop right out of his skull!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's better than seeing West Edmonton Mall in person? Seeing it from eight feet in the air!!!

      Delete
  3. Oh my goodness, why do you do this to me??? I am such a sucker for dogs and kids stories. Puppies and babies are my weakness! And I love how attached they get to each other. Much better than cats! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aw, you gave me chills! What a lovely tribute to your son! A boy and a dog...it doesn't get much better than that. Well, maybe, a son and his bride!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully that relationship will last just a bit longer!!! :)

      Delete
  5. Well nuts...so can I.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I had to dry my eyes before I could comment. You know how to bring out the chuckles AND the tears, Diane!

    All the very best to the new married couple, and have a good time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can totally relate! I had to do the same to write! :)

      Delete
  7. This made me cry too, happy emotional tears for a boy and his dog, how very sweet of Chiefy-sit to look after Phil and now Phil getting married...I wish them well. Perhaps a puppy as a wedding gift?

    ReplyDelete

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