Terry Drinkwine Outdoors!

I could sense there was something on his mind. For the past few days he’d been quiet… not that he’s noisy, but he’d been sitting in front of me and just staring at me. It took a while for me to catch on, but finally, the light went on and I began to pay attention.

Seamus and I are like an old married couple that spend so much time together, we can read each other’s mind. It’s more than just knowing when he wants to eat, get a drink, go for a walk or just plain wants his ears scratched; there are times when I know what would come out of his mouth if he could form the words.

There is activity brewing in the Drinkwine household: preparations are being made for the arrival of Terry Jr. and his family for Thanksgiving that will make the clan complete. Fourteen in all. I’m sure he figured that part out but wasn’t sure how to feel about that – six kids under the age of 10 chasing him around the house, wanting him to hold still and let them scratch his ears… and play dress up.

So the other day while “She Who Must Be Obeyed” was out shopping, Seamus and I had a talk. It began when I noticed he was keeping his eyes trained on me no matter where I went or what I did. It wasn’t the, let’s go for a walk look, it was more profound; he was telling me he had a “gripe.”

All of a sudden, like getting a swift kick in the ass when I was a kid, it hit me. He didn’t want to get dressed up. I understood completely as it dawned on me that he knew, someone was going to want him to wear reindeer antlers and pose for pictures. I could almost hear the distain in his voice as he said, “If you let them do that to me, I’ll never find you another bird.”

Well, what could I do? I not only understood, I sympathized with him completely. It was like the scene in Christmas Story, when Ralphie was made to wear the rabbit pajamas until his dad took pity on him because he understood.

His eyes softened as we talked and he finally relaxed when I promised I’d find the antlers and get rid of them once and for all. He came over to where I was sitting, turned around twice and laid down, shoving his nose under my hand wanting his ears scratched.

Sorry kids, I think Santa took the antlers with him last year.

TD