To understand this site, you need to know a little about Maggie and me.
In February (the day before Valentine’s Day) we drove and hour and half to take our pick of a liter of puppies my wife (Michelle) had read about.
The story actually begins a little further back…
As you remember, 2020 was a tough year. The country (and world) was in lock-down and everyone felt isolated. Michelle and I – especially Michelle – was really feeling the pinch because we are empty-nesters. And while some of kids and grandkids live pretty close (within an hour drive), Michelle was ‘needing something to love on’ (besides me. Go figure).
So began her internet search for a puppy.
We had a few near misses while trying to get a new addition to our family (we drove 45 minutes to meet a lady only to be stood up), but eventually she found a woman who had a liter of puppies that were half Australian Shepherd-half beagle (I know, right. What a mix). We had no idea what we really wanted for a dog, but Michelle REALLY wanted a puppy.
So, Saturday, February 13th 2021, we hit the road to make the drive (somewhere north of Chattanooga, Tennessee) to take our pick of the liter.
When we arrived, we realized this was a rescue mission of sorts. There were two liters. One liter was full Aussie pups. The other was the mix. The Aussies were tucked away in the barn – nice and cozy. The Aussie-Beagles were under the porch. And weather conditions were rough. High mountain (at least for this part of the country), cold and wet.
All the Aussies were claimed, so that left only the mixes. There were nine males and one female.
Michelle took her time holding each one. Surveying the liter closely.
Even now, I smile as I think back to that day. The female would not leave Michelle’s feet. Everywhere she went, this little runt stayed right at her feet. Always looking up as if saying, ‘Pick me. Pick me.’
That’s all it took. Eventually Michelle said, ‘I want this cute little female.’
I tell Maggie all the time she was rescued. She is a rescue dog, but the reality is, she rescued us.
Anyway…back to the story.
The reason we got Maggie was so she would bond with Michelle. I dreamed of watching this fiesty little thing sticking to her ‘mom’ like glue. In fact, on the way home, Michelle held her in her lap, petting and loving on her the entire way home. Looking back, I should have known something was up; the entire trip, Maggie stared at me!
My goal of having her bond with Michelle didn’t work out like I thought. Don’t get me wrong. She loves ‘mom.’ But, as Michelle says, ‘I’m her person!’
She sticks to me like glue. I often think we should have named her velcro.
The joke in the family is that I am Maggies ‘support person.’
We’ve certainly bonded. She goes with me everywhere (well, almost everywhere). She loves to ride in my red Ford pickup truck. I can say the word’truck’ and she sits by the door waiting to go on an adventure.
We hike together (thank God she likes to hike). We fish together (although she isn’t crazy about the water). I think she is the only dog I’ve ever met that couldn’t swim. When we go on our pontoon boat, she has her own life jacket.
What You’ll Find On The Site
My wife and I are both writers. This is my space to tell stories about Maggie. She keeps us entertained and has definitely been a great ‘fit’ for our family. The grandkids love her (she is super friendly with children), and all the neighbors know her and look out for her.
So this is all about her. Hence, Maggies’ Tale.
By the way, my name is Douglas. Welcome to our story.
Hope you enjoy.