FBF 11: Four-legged Family (and a note about 3 years of blogging)

This edition of Flasback Friday is in honor of the four-legged friends that find their way into our hearts and become family members.

I am an animal lover through and through, but mostly I am a dog person. I don't really do cats. Mostly because I am allergic, partially because of the whole litter-box thing and secretly because I just plain don't like 'em. I don't wish them any harm, but they are not for me. My poor son is constantly asking for a cat. My husband isn't a cat-person either and we just laugh that the child was just born into the wrong family pet-wise.

Back in 1998, around the time of our first wedding anniversary, I told Rudy I wanted a dog. He thought I was crazy, but I knew we were nowhere near ready for kids and I needed something to nurture and snuggle with when Rudy was working those late restaurant hours. We went down to the Town Lake Animal Shelter in Austin and found this guy:

(Rudy and I with Weasel, Mt. Charleston, NV Christmas 2003)

He was a pathetic-looking, emaciated mutt that the shelter had dubbed 'Weasel'. We had planned to changed his name, but after busting out of the backyard after squirrels a couple of times and sneaking his way into our bed at night, we decided the name was a good fit and we left well enough alone.
Weasel was an amazing companion to us through some of the toughest years of our lives. Anytime we were upset, he could sense it and would come over, push his nose into our laps and rest his chin there as if to say, "I'm here, and whatever it is, I'm with you."
When Aron came along, a lot changed for Weasel. Poor guy got demoted overnight! But he and Aron had a special relationship that was so touching to witness. "Doh" (dog) was Aron's first word, and he eventually called him "Deedle". This is one of my favorite pictures of them and is framed in Aron's room:

(Aron and Weasel on our patio in Las Vegas, Summer 2005)

We had to say goodbye to Weaz back in 2006 and it nearly broke my heart in two. I think I cried every night for about two weeks. But we cherish our memories with such a special pet and are just now contemplating adopting another dog. I hope we will find one as loyal and with as much 'personality' as our first pet.

A note about blogging: I cannot believe I have been doing this blog for 3 years! Life has certainly been adventurous since that first post in February of 2006. It has been so much fun and I have met and shared life-stories with so many people. Thank you to all of those who follow, or stop by and/or comment. You are a big part of what makes this hobby worthwhile.