July 2nd, 2023 ~ Sunday night (68° at nearly midnight/tomorrow is to be warmer – hello dog days of summer!)
Nearly three years ago – at the tail end of the “dog days of summer” (the hot period of summer between July 3 – August 11, which the ancients so named due to the intense heat they believed was caused by the brightest star – Sirius/the dog star – rising and setting with the sun), a tiny little chihuahua walked her way into my life and took up residence in my heart. I named her Bea. My little wandering ancient pup came to me after someone cast her aside, or dropped off in the middle of town – knowing someone would scoop her up – the casualty of a domestic squabble, or who merely walked out the door – the owner none the wiser. She was also known as Aunt Bea … or quite simply, Baby. She was a lovely, 21-year-old, hedgehog of a dog who left us earlier this spring. I know she’s out there romping amongst the clouds with all my other baby darlings that have gone ahead over that bridge.
And, there will be yet another one joining that group of mine – but hopefully not for a long while. Yesterday, a 13-year-old, deaf, 7-pound, rust-colored, fox-eared and doe-eyed chihuahua traveled with me to his forever home. Here. His owner passed and before securing his care, that man’s grown children left this sweet morsel of a dog – alone – in their father’s home for six weeks – coming, only sporadically, to refill his water and food dishes. Poor Frankie!
I originally went onto the chihuahua rescue site last week … just to “look”. (A dangerous thing to do as we all know how that turns out!) I filled out an app and then looked at the available dogs. None tugged at the ol’ heartstrings on the first page. Halfway down the second page, I saw … HIM. A white-faced, big-eared, toothless sweetheart with watery seal eyes … and my heart melted. If it had been made out of chocolate, I (and my computer) would have been a gooey mess. It was his eyes that got me! But then I found out about his back story and well, that clinched the deal! After a few back and forths (another family had requested him first – and then backed out) … I was next in line to “see” him. So, I went up north yesterday to visit with this pooch. The dog foster mom was delightful and the minute she waved his little paw at me through the front window, I knew I wasn’t just coming to “see” him. He was mine. I was his. However that works.
So, old, sweet Frankie (I like to think his whole name is Franklin – he could fit into that!) came back with me – to his last home. After such trauma and displacement, I was a little worried about how he’d react in another new place but, Mr. B gave him a fine howdy/homey welcome and that was that! He ate some dinner, found all five dog beds, walked the yard with me, and then promptly conked out on my bed and slept until 9 am. I think he did just fine! He is sweet, cute, almost charming … and I already can’t imagine my life without him. He is so, completely home … enjoying the last chapter of his doggy life in the land of the old/home of the dog treats.
And, speaking of Frank/lin and dogs/dog days … cue the segue …
Around this date, 247 years ago (yes, 1776), 56 men gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence – a document that we now celebrate by roasting hot dogs, setting our yards on fire, and blasting off fingers. The oldest delegate (inventor, astronomer, scientist, printer, and fellow dog-lover) to sign this document was another Frank (of sorts) … my ancestor, Benjamin Franklin. He was 70 years old at the time of the signing, born January 17, 1706, in Boston, MA, and went on to be one of our nation’s most famous countrymen. He wore oval-shaped glasses (as did I in the 7th grade causing my sister to tease me by calling me, “Ben”. Lovely.) and was notably known for his many inventions (bifocals, the lightning rod, and swim fins amongst them), his scientific discoveries, his writings, and his dedication to this country (in many ways). He was the founder of the first library and the first fire department, as well as the University of PA. He was the only founding father that signed all four key documents that led to the formation of this country … the Declaration of Independence (which he also helped draft) in 1776, the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778, the peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783, and the United States Constitution in 1787. He believed in a democratic form of government, civic virtue, political activism, and enlightened thinking based on science and reason. (Sounds good!) He had three children, adored his son’s Newfoundland dog, had two pet squirrels, and lived to be 84.
And oddly, that is the age of my Frankie, now. Hmmm … I’m going to pretend that cosmically, there is a full-circle connection here with the full moon and the dog star, the 4th, our lineage, and our shared love of dogs.
Thanks Uncle Ben for your help in securing our democracy … and thanks little Frankie for bringing new doggy joy into my life.