maxie dog

my family and friends in cleveland know how excited i am to see them. they are equally excited to see me, if history tells me anything. one time i came home and surprised my nephew by getting him from his crib instead of his mother after his nap. he was so happy to see me that he banged his head into his crib and gave himself a fat lip. see picture as proof.

one of those family members that i sometimes neglect, but am always so happy to see, is my dad's/brother's dog maxie. she is a great dog, if somewhat hyperactive. when i walk in the room, she gets so excited that she can't contain herself. she jumps on me and grabs my arm with her mouth in this cute little hug-manner. she is just so incredibly happy to have a new face around to play catch with or lounge with or just sit on the front porch with.

my dad had three kids, but maxie was always his favorite. every time i look at her, i miss my dad a little bit more. she would sleep with him every night (unless i was in town, and then she preferred the company of women). she would follow him everywhere. she would be excited when he walked in the door every day after work, not just after a six-month hiatus as was the case with me. he would take her everywhere with him, to his cabin in pennsylvania, swimming at the lake, playing in the snow.

i recently inherited my dad's old digital camera, and downloaded all of his pictures onto my computer. of all of the great memories, trips to san diego to visit me, trips to florida with my sister and brother, the birth of my nephew, weekends in pennsylvania in the winter with the four-wheeler and my brother, there are more pictures of that dog than of anything.

which is why i can't wait to see her. adding to the collection is only appropriate.