This is my whimsical decree appointing Theo – currently residing in R2 – as your astral companion, The Mood Guardian, tasked to tenderly lick your nose whenever sadness looms on the horizon.
He is a Hungarian vizsla puppy, given to me as a gift by a friend. I got him during my first summer break after finishing gymnasium. At that time, I was looking after a 4-year-old boy named Theodore while his parents were away on a two-week vacation, leaving my mother (which meant me) in charge. He was a little gentleman – cute, well-mannered – but he kept me on my toes with his endless stream of questions (Why parrot is green??) and “let’s play – let’s draw” activities throughout the day.
When the puppy arrived, he didn’t have a name yet. In a stroke of simplicity (or lack of immagination), I proposed naming him after young Theodore, using his nickname Theo. Theodore graciously accepted the honor. My next task was to toilet train Theo, which proved to be challenging. On the first morning of our training, I was abruptly awakened by an intriguing smell and a wet pillow – courtesy of Theo who was licking my nose to distract me from my emotional outburst. It worked like a charm – I couldn’t help but smile at those eyes of his, a captivating blend of blue and hints of grey – he appeared just like the puppy in the photo.
From then on, my days revolved around feeding Theo on schedule and chasing after him to monitor his derrière and his bathroom habits. Despite my efforts, he always caught me off-guard – like performing a gravity-defying “parabola-pee” while I struggled to contain the situation (kind of) – sprinting downstairs while holding the culprit. After two weeks of struggles marked by failed toilet training attempts (wet pillows, mishaps in the dining room, complete with holding a cloth in his mouth as a subtle hint for cleanup) and my mother’s exasperation, I received the verdict with no room for appeal – Theo had to be returned to my friend. Later, Theo found a new loving home with a couple who adored him.
Sidenote: during this chaotic period Theodore didn’t need my attention. He was happy to watch my struggles with Theo, giving me the time to concentrate on the puppy.
End of story: with Theo back in the hands of my friend and Theodore reunited with his parents, I was left feeling a mix of sadness and newfound freedom for the rest of the summer.
Infinite Love.