Lucy’s Yellow Ducky

April 1997

Lucy, our seven-month-old Black Lab sits at the window, with her fuzzy yellow ducky in her mouth.  Anxiously, she wiggles her butt on the floor as she watches someone walk by with a dog on a leash.  A muffled “woof” comes out from around the yellow duck.  A second deeper, more resonant “woof” follows, although it’s still muffled.  “Oh, you’re bad,” I say, laughing at the comic sight.  “I just bet you’re scaring that dog to death, you and your yellow ducky.”

I was delighted when I first unwrapped her Christmas gift from the grandkids.  “Here Lucy, this is for you,” I said as I tossed it across the room in her favorite game.  Excited, she ran over and grabbed her new toy.  For a minute or so, she ran around the room with it in her mouth. 

Then she bit just right and it started singing.  Putting on her breaks, she dropped the ducky and backed up a couple of feet to study it.  Tilting her head back and forth, she listened to the music.  “Quack Quack, I’m a yellow ducky.”  Then, as it stopped, she picked it up and brought it over to me in a “Here, you can have it back” body language and dropped it at my feet.

“It’s ok, Lucy,” I say, laughing.  “It’s for you.”  Again, I toss it across the room.  This time Lucy runs over, but lays on the floor in front of it, like she’s afraid to touch it.

Using her nose, she pushes it a little piece.  Nothing.  Once again, she pushes it, still nothing.  Finally, she picks it up between her teeth and runs back over to me with it.  Sitting it on the floor, she nudges my hand, in her “pick it up” signal.

Reaching down, I pick it up and push the stomach.  Once again the tune begins.  Tilting her head back and forth, she listens to it and looks at me. She seems to be saying, “And it’s ok with you if I bite this thing?”

It took a little convincing, but by the end of the day, she’s over her concern and is now in love with her ducky.  Everyone that comes in the door gets introduced to it as she greets them with it in her mouth and drops it in their lap as they sit down. 

It’s obvious; too, that there’s no way she’s going to leave it behind when we go out.  Out the door she runs with it in her mouth and straight into the truck, where she promptly takes her place at the back window, looking out. An occasional honk and wave from a passerby, let’s me know that Lucy and yellow ducky have lightened someone else’s day.

Lucy and Maraelia

December, 1997

Sharon’s Rambling... One and a half year old Maraelia giggles as she eats the mash potatoes from her dad’s plate. She’s particularly happy that she has her very own toy spoon and Dad is so busy watching tv, he’s just letting her do it herself.

Looking from the tv to her, I now see why she’s giggling. Her dad doesn’t realize it, but he’s got more than Maraelia eating with him.

Lucy, our year-old lab sits patiently by as Maraelia shares with her.

Heres one spoonful for Maraelia, here’s one for Lucy. Lucy’s long pink tongue reaches out and laps gently, but thoroughly over the tiny spoon and follows with a big thank you lick on Maraelia’s face, that’s when the giggles come.

“Lucy, No!” “Maraelia, No!” Mike and I say simultaneously.

“She’s the one doing it,” Grandpa says, grinning from his recliner. “You can’t blame Lucy.”

Lucy loves Maraelia. Not only is she a source of food to be unequaled, she lets Lucy love her and lick her all she wants. Of course, when Mom is watching, she gets in trouble, but it’s worth it.

And... Maraelia loves Lucy. She loves to roll on Lucy, using her for a pillow, and ride her like a pony, and Maraelia even loves to give Lucy kisses.

Devan always gives Grandma and Grandpa kisses, but never Lucy. Oh, him and Michael and Jody give Lucy lots of hugs and such, throws the ball for her, and sometimes Jody likes to dress her up in lace, silk and pearls, but only Maraelia gives her kisses.

Lucy will sit patiently, watching as they get ready to go home, but as Maraelia starts making her rounds, giving kisses, she starts moving closer and closer, wanting to make sure she’s not forgotten.

Maraelia will come lean against Granny's lap and lean her head forward for a kiss and then go to Grandpa, climbing up in the recliner to give his.

Then, last, but not least, she’ll walk over to where Lucy is waiting patiently and plant a big kiss on her nose. Occasionally, she’ll start to give Lucy hers first, but Grandpa will start fussing, “Kiss me before you kiss Lucy!” So, she’s learned to save Lucy for last.

They’re a pair, Maraelia and Lucy, each of them loving bundles of energy that can’t be tied down... Sharon

Lucy with her favorite toy

Lucy begging Dad, "Come on Dad, let's play!"

Lucy has been photographed so much, she know's how to turn her best side!

Posing

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Her, "I truly did not mean to each that roast you left out defrosting..." look!