Getting To Know Murphy

Today we get to share in a happy story from the BML. The following is what Debbie McDilda sent me regarding her new addition, Murphy.

Murphy was born on Cinco de Mayo 2009, so he's about 2 1/2 years old and he's a very typical 2-3 year old! Lots and lots of energy and endless curiosity. I've known Murphy since he was born but since he's been in Portland with my step-son and family I hadn't seen him in a while. When my husband and I went north this past Thanksgiving I noticed that they were not enjoying Murphy's young antics (or energy) AT ALL. After many conversations with my daughter-in-law, and discussing what would be best for Murphy, we offered to adopt him. He and Annie (my new rescue) really loved playing and were obviously compatible. No firm decision was made then. My step-son came down at Christmas with Murphy and his 11 yr. old boxer Major and on Christmas night he asked if we'd be willing to keep Murphy. We did in an instant. He stayed with us from that day on and he and Annie are getting closer every day. 

He's on his way to becoming the great big boy that we can see in between the high energy moments. He's very sweet, is great with kids of all ages and loves to play with his toys. He's enjoying his freedom to be a young boxer tremendously.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you, Murphy.

 

This last one is Murphy in his cone of shame after his exuberance landed him with a nasty wound in his leg.

Remembering Shubert

I had mentioned in my last entry that I had a new plan to get my blog going again. I came up with the idea because for years on the BML our great friend Dale would post photos on his Friends page so we could admire each other's Boxers. With Dale's failing health I thought, why not? I could do this. So here we go.

The first entry is bittersweet because it is to commemorate one of the members of our Boxer family that has passed. That's the bitter, the sweet is Shubert was just a month shy of her 16th birthday and that's something almost unheard of for a Boxer. Shubert had been with Dianne Nelson in Alaska for about the last six years, since the passing of our friend Susan Barnes and was the last of Susan's "galz". Dianne sent me the following photos to share.

Shubert in the swimming hole two summers ago. (She doesn't look like an old dog to me)






 

In December Dianne and Shubert participated in a skit at a talent show. Dianne is the one in the Dalmation suit.

Shubert right before they went on stage. She is wearing her Fido Fleece and a big red bow on her collar. She got to be so loving to everyone where as before Susan got her she was afraid of everyone and everything.

Shubert and her sweetie Casey, cuddling on the couch.

Shubert using her kitty friend Twink as a pillow.

And this last shot is to let all the rest of us know what we're missing, not being in Alaska.

That lump of snow in the middle? That's Dianne's truck.

Back to the Blog

I've been away from this for quite a while, ok almost a year. I am maybe not the imaginative creative soul that I like to think I am. However, a week or so ago I came up with a plan to resurrect the blog. I was all set to do so starting tonight, but something changed.

That change was that today I lost a friend. I say I but it's not I, it's we, and that we is the wonderful community of Boxer lovers I belong to known as the Boxer Mailing List. Nearly 13 years ago, back when the first Brindle was a wee girl, I discovered this community through an internet search. I was welcomed with open arms by a man named Dale Ulmer, little knowing that he and his wife Diane would one day become friends and that I would visit them in their home.

Dale was, in the words of his co-adminstrator, the voice of the BML. He shared his ideas, especially about home-cooking for Boxers, offered his wisdom and was respected and even loved by so many of us. He deserves much of the credit for molding our community into something more like a huge extended family with members all over the world.

Today our friend moved on, not leaving us behind but going to be greeted by those who loved him, human and canine, who had gone before. In the words of one of our members "I hope in dog heaven where Dale is going, there is a gigantic cooktop with tons of ingredients and huge pressure cookers where the ol' man can whip up his mac n mac."

I'd like to also share the prose that Dale's good friend and wife used to let us know of his passing.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore.  A ship at my side, spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.  She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.  And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

 And that is dying.

~Henry Van Dyke
 American poet

Farewell and Godspeed my friend, and could you pass little scritch on to Kate and Spencer for me? You'll remember the tiny Brindle girl who will probably have a tennis ball with her and the white guy with one blue eye who will be pushing to the front because he always wanted to be the first to greet anyone new coming in.

Dale Ulmer

Dec. 12, 1938 - Jan. 5, 2012