My "Marley" and Me

As I was sitting on the computer writing my paper, I decided to sit down and tell you a little about my "Marley"...aka Jake :) "SweetBoy Jake" to be exact...that is his registered name. At the time I filled out those papers, I was totally oblivious. I would've never realized that at the age of 7, and 100 lbs, I would still be chasing him around DAILY to get socks, underwear, food, Presley's toys...and yes, even the occasional tampon. (FYI...as I'm writing this, he is laying beside me with his head on one of Presley's books...he just brought it in here to "show" me. What a "sweetboy.")

So as you can guess, what really got this going is the movie Marley and Me. I watched it for the first time the other day. It has taken me this long to finally work up the courage and do it. My mom and sister have been telling me to read the book forever, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew it would be hilarious...everyone said it was "Jake's story." But with that story, also came a sad ending. And I just couldn't bear the thought of that. But our best friend Sonny was so adamant that I watch it. He said "Candice, I swear its like someone put a hidden camera in your house and recorded Jake for the past 7 years.) As intriguing as that sounds, I was still skeptical.

See, Jake was the first inside dog that I had ever owned. Clinton got him for me for our first Christmas. I had wanted a golden retriever my entire life but my parents wouldn't let me have an inside dog. So when Clinton asked my dad permission to get one, he finally gave in. Only there was one condition...it had to be a yellow lab (that was his favorite). And of course, they wouldn't shed "near as bad" as a golden retriever....ummm yeah right. So about a month before Christmas, Clinton brings me this banana box and tells me to open it...only to find the most precious thing I had ever seen. From that day on, I was hooked. I loved Jake more than life (please remember this was before I was a parent...I love Presley more, no worries). He has truly brought us so much joy, and needless to say, entertainment. Ohhh lets see... there was the time that he shredded our leather chair...it literally looked like a lion had taken its teeth to the entire side of the recliner. There was also the time that he almost ate one of my diamond earrings that I only had for a few weeks. He's eaten a huge container of fudge...twice...container included on one of those times. Countless clothes, flip-flops, pillows, my great grandmothers homemade quilt...all have been destroyed during one of Jake's escapades. But despite all of this, he is still my sweetboy :) And its because of this reason that I had to get up during the last few minutes of the movie. I couldn't stop crying and was making a total fool of myself. Thirty minutes after the movie...still crying. I made Clinton move over so Jake could sleep in between us. I spooned him just like I use to in the old days :)

Now that I've had the chance to reminisce the past 7 years, here are a few recent pics of my Jake!

Jake with Uncle Sonny...while we were watching "Marley and Me"....

and yes, he is a 100 lb lap dog:)

Presley and Jake surveying the neighborhood

One morning I woke up to find him asleep with one of Presley's toys :)

Playing in the snow :)

This past Christmas with one of his toys!

The first time I realized Presley would love him just as much as I did!

He had just licked her on the face but my camera was too slow and missed the shot :(