The Twelve Year Weekend

My grandkids love for me to tell them bedtime stories.  I realize this has less to do with my wonderful story-telling abilities and more to do with them not wanting to go to sleep, but I indulge them anyway.  They especially like stories about their father, which I tell and he denies.

Last weekend, I told my grandson how our dog Chance came to be a member of our family.  It was the Friday before Mother's Day, twelve years ago. My son called early that morning to tell me he had the perfect Mother's Day gift for me.  He knew I was thinking about getting a companion for our dog Brandi and he had just the dog - an apparent stray who had followed my daughter-in-law home on her morning jog.   I reminded him I was looking for a female puppy.  He countered that this adult male was "really cute" and he knew I would love him.  I held my ground.  He agreed he would find another home for the little guy but he was going out of town for the weekend and could I help out by taking the dog until he got back?  I don't remember agreeing to this but somehow there he was.  Our weekend guest, who arrived on Friday and never left.

When I finished the story, my grandson said, "So Chance just stayed with you for a twelve year weekend."

I guess that's what it was.

This story is in memory of Chance, whose long weekend with us ended last Wednesday (we miss you, buddy).  But it's also about things that are supposed to be temporary and somehow go on and on.  What about you?  Have there been things (houseguests, jobs, responsibilities, etc.) in your world that were supposed to be short term but didn't quite turn out that way?  Will you share one?

Unwriting progress: From the original 150,000 words down to 109,874.

I'm currently enjoying: Just finished really enjoying Touch of Fire by Maria Zannini

Quote of the day: “Nobody can be as agreeable as an uninvited guest” - Kin Hubbard