tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666281991823382096.post2075284295682256592..comments2023-11-05T03:12:59.149-05:00Comments on THE FRACTURED KEYBOARD: MARLEY & ME - AN ESSAY CONTESTNiki Schoenfeldthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732768791387582546noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666281991823382096.post-35537050129352587212009-01-27T14:25:00.000-05:002009-01-27T14:25:00.000-05:00Okay, here it is January 27 and as promised I must...Okay, here it is January 27 and as promised I must choose a winner for my MARLEY & ME Essay Contest. Unfortunately, due to a MAJOR low turnout, choosing the winner is much easier than I thought. Yes, the prize of a $10.00 Books-a-Million gift card is awarded to the only reader who was brave enough to take the plunge. <BR/><BR/>Drumroll please!<BR/><BR/>And the winner is. . . <BR/><BR/>The wonderful, the great, the one and only JEAN!!!!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for playing!Niki Schoenfeldthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13732768791387582546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666281991823382096.post-20295402170610805052009-01-22T16:05:00.000-05:002009-01-22T16:05:00.000-05:00I'm going to come back and post mine this weekend....I'm going to come back and post mine this weekend. I've had several dogs, so it will be hard to narrow it down to one. :)Write2ignitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17266315375662322726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666281991823382096.post-73975252621878328202009-01-20T18:38:00.000-05:002009-01-20T18:38:00.000-05:00Wow, Jean. Great job. It is amazing how our pets...Wow, Jean. Great job. It is amazing how our pets become such integral parts of our lives.Niki Schoenfeldthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13732768791387582546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666281991823382096.post-45943692518571890962009-01-19T11:21:00.000-05:002009-01-19T11:21:00.000-05:00I've been owned by several dogs in my 60 years...I've been owned by several dogs in my 60 years on this earth. Each one endearing in her/his own way. But the best memories, the strongest heart-ties I have belong to my first dog, Wooly.<BR/><BR/>My Granny died when I was ten years old. She was a huge part of my life. So, when my Dad brought her pekinese puppy home to us I immediately laid claim on him.<BR/><BR/>He wasn't a rascal at all. Wooly was the most laid back (aka lazy) dog you can imagine. But he was MINE. Each day when I came home from school I'd find him at full stretch on the cool, polished hard wood floor in our living room. He'd stand up, swish his feathery tail, and stick close to me from that point on.<BR/><BR/>Wooly was my snuggle-bunny at night. He started the nights out in my arms. But always wound up curled around my feet in the winter, and stretched out in my open window in the summer.<BR/><BR/>He followed me everywhere.<BR/><BR/>Wooly was my confidant through those difficult tween & teen years. I shared every heart ache, every disappointment, every concern with him. He always listened attentively, snuggled up close to comfort me, and kept my secrets totally confidential.<BR/><BR/>One morning I let him out to do his doggie business-as usual. When it was almost time to head for the bus stop I called & called, but no Wooly came prissing up the sidewalk.<BR/><BR/>I went out to the street to find him & scold him all the way home. But no scolding was needed. I saw Wooly's lifeless body on the pavement and the trash truck chugging down the street a few houses away.<BR/><BR/>Histeria hit me. I cried, I screamed, I ran toward him. Fortunately, my Dad saw what was happening and beat me to Wooly.<BR/><BR/>We had a solemn funeral that morning and I stayed home from school that day. My Dad was so gracious about it all. To him Wooly was just another dog, but he knew my heart was broken and he helped me grieve.<BR/><BR/>Wooly helped me live. He helped me process a lot of unhappy things, and broken relationships, and insecurities during my teen years. He really was my best friend.<BR/><BR/>JeanJeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670857919750760186noreply@blogger.com