Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Animal Wednesday - the disadvantages of bad eyesight, and the advantage of being able to Laugh at yourself

My first trip ever to California was around 1984. I went out there with my bestest friend Grace, (who is still my bestest friend and the mother of my darlingest nephews). We went out for work, and were excited to be traveling together and getting to work and play at the same time. Coincidentally my brother had just moved to San Fran area for his residency so we had a chance to play with him also.

Anyway...Grace and I took our rental car and started driving down the coast - freezing our butts off cause of course we new englanders thought it was summer and California and warm and sunny. Yeah right...

Now remember, before I start this story just remember that I had a smallish lab type black dog at home, with sleek hair and a cute face. Parker was his name

So we came to this lovely beach which I don't remember the name of but could still drive you there in a minute. We walked along the beach enjoying the sand and surf and saw the sign that said "RIPTIDE - DON'T SWIM HERE (you east-coast idiots it implied).

Just at that moment, I saw a dog in the water, struggling for it's life in the HUGE waves that were crashing onto the beach. I grabbed Grace and yelled (in my best NYC accent) "There's a DAWG in the water!!!" implying that we had to rescue it! Grace held onto me and didn't let me jump into the water, pointing out that there was a RIPTIDE!!! Then the dogs head disappeared...only to bob up a few minutes later in another spot. When I finally dug out my glasses and got them on I saw....

These babies are now known as "california dogs" in our families.

14 comments:

Katiejane said...

This is so cute, Mim. I probably would have thought it was a dog too, only I can't swim, so I would have panicked big time trying to figure out how to help him.

Call Me Cate said...

That's awesome. I love hearing how things like that get started. You know they're truly friends when you have your own in-jokes. Like California dogs.

Teri said...

Ohnygod Mim, that is just hilarious and the way you explained made it even funnier. Thanks for this late night laugh!!

HAW

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Pawsome! It never hurts to belly laugh at yourself...I though a ringtailed cat rummaging through my backpack in the wilderness one night was a domestic cat...my companions told me I must really be missing mine!

studio lolo said...

ha haaaaa!! You completely had me! I thought it was going to be another piece of floating wood like your New England gator ;)

I laugh when company visits us in the summer. They pack their bikinis and freeze their asses off! This is NOT the tropics. But in the winter I have my laughs.
Hmmm, payback may be a B---- if I'm not careful!
Still, I'm looking forward to the transition.

ElizT said...

Wonderful.
Twice, I have failed to recognise a daughter, on land and fully dressed. Blamed the hairdo.

soulbrush said...

ROFLOL, what a funny tale, with a happy ending. HAW mim.

Debra Kay said...

HAW! What a great story!

Renee said...

I burst out laughing as soon as I saw the seal.

Too funny, but I'm glad you wanted to save him.

Love Renee xoxo

ArtistUnplugged said...

Oh, what a hoot! Interesting to hear how sayings get started in families. Sounds like something I would do...

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Oh thats too funny. Grin
Yes we had a few of those stories floating around in our family. Thanks for the chuckle.

kj said...

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, mim.

that face. if only we all had faces like that, there would be no disagreements (well, maybe a few small ones).

you've spun a fine yarn here, ms. mim. xoxoxo

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a funny story Mim. I am glad your bestest friend clamped a hold on you.

Michele said...

I'm laughing so hard. I love this story.