Attachments and Disorders

I bond. I bond with people, pets, places … you name it. It’s a loyalty and monogamy, if you want to use that word, rooted deeply in who I am. I know this about myself, and I understand how it plays out in my life.

… both for the good and not so good.

I got to thinking about the attachments we make with our dogs and in other areas of our lives after Tom considered getting a different truck over the weekend.

We tried to reconstruct the litany of cars he has owned over the years, and we found a few gaps in our collective memory. I do recall, however, telling friends, “Better a new car, than a new wife,” when he drove a red sports car years ago.

(For the record, my midlife-crisis car is a Mini Cooper — silver, with a sun roof.)

As we made our way home after a test drive, Tom said, “Some day, I want to have a car painted that yellow.” (referring to the truck we’d just driven)

Interesting, don’t you think?

I often tell people that I’d like to have a doberman or a German shepherd some day, and Tom’s pronouncement struck me as being in the same vein.

In human relationships, we say people with many passing romantic interests have “commitment issues” or are “afraid of commitment.” That might result in eternal dating. It might mean marital infidelity. It could be a simple lack of real attachment to those in our lives.

Others pass through these emotions via clothes or cars or gadgets.

I get that. We’re all chasing something.

But, I wonder … for those of us who volunteer (or have volunteered) in the dog world, is our contiguous attachment to shelter pets or foster pets a version of emotionally shopping around? The best of ALL worlds … at the same time? Having our cake and eating it too?

Or are our hearts simply too big, too open … too much in need?

Blame it on all the illness and death in those around me for 2+ years now, but I’ve started wondering how many dogs remain in my “lifetime,” especially since one at a time (one for me and one for Tom, 2 total) is my emotional and financial limit.

I really wish we could foster … if not for the behavior challenges Lilly and Ginko bring to our home … if not for the ongoing demands outside my blog life.

Now, that I’ve lived with and love a border collie, I cannot imagine another breed as my primary sidekick. Yet, I’m still the girl who would like to give a Dobe for a shepherd a spin.

So, if it never happens due to whatever life circumstances ahead, let’s all pretend that there was a time when Tom drove a yellow car, and I had a Doberman or a German shepherd at my side.

What’s on your breed wish list? Estimate the likelihood of it coming true?

 

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Lilly and I continue in our pursuit of a book deal because living with a fearful dog isn’t just about dogs … it’s about real life. We would appreciate your help. Please nominate Champion of My Heart as Best Dog Blog.