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More Basenji Stories
by Chris O'Rear
O'Rear photo of Rafiki & Comet
Bubba and the Refrigerator
Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 7:07pm
When I moved back into this house I bought a new refrigerator. I decided to get one that dispensed ice and water on the door. The store installed the new appliance and I though we were good to go.
I returned from work the next day and was dismayed to find that there was no ice and several small pools of water in front of the fridge. The store could send out a repairman the next day, yea! After inspecting the fridge (that now had an abundance of ice and no puddles) they could find no problems.
The following evening I again returned home to puddles and no ice. AARRGGHHH!! Repairman two came out and although there was no ice, he couldn't locate any leaks. I was told to call again if the problem persisted.
Back to work the next morning and home again to the same old problem. I called again for service. By this point they were beginning to treat me like some crazy person that didn't have it together enough to serve myself a glass of ice water and made me wait several days before agreeing to come out again.
I was running a little late to meet the repairman. When I pulled up in front of the house I saw him peering in the kitchen window, talking into his phone, and laughing his ass off. Hmmm, something is not right here, I thought, and jumped out of the car.
The guy said, "Hey, I think I located the problem!" and motioned me over and pointed in the window. Inside was Bubba, my sweet Basenji boy, and he was standing on his back feet in front of the fridge. As we watched Bubba batted the ice dispenser lever releasing ice all over the floor. He chased a few cubes around and then stood back up and released more. I imagine he did this until the dispenser was empty when I wasn't around to stop him. I apologized profusely to the repairman and asked him to please disconnect the water and ice feature. He did, chuckling the whole time.
Bubba has been gone a while now. I guess I could reconnect the dispenser, but you know I probably won't. Every time someone new comes in to the house and tries to get water and ice there I remember this silly adventure with Bubba and have the opportunity to share this story and memories of my sweet tri boy.
" Bubba" Ch Bushbabies Serengeti Ti-Mtu, always loved and dearly missed.
Kiwi's Journey
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 5:52pm
You may not realize it, but most of you are already familiar with Kiwi. I found her so beautiful, and still do, so I pull out my old photos and rework them. Kiwi was a heart dog, just perfect for me and we were blessed to have 16 years together.
Today I went to our favorite beach and collected a small vial of sand. Carmel beach is Bakari's beach, a place of boisterous and rowdy dog play. Sometimes Bakari ends up being rolled around like a bowling ball and to him that is just good fun. Today I went to Kiwi's beach in Sand City. It is quieter and less populated, not so many large dogs. Kiwi and I spent many hours there along with Kissy and Bubba. And there were many solo trips as Kiwi got older. In her youth she was always walking just to the left of me and would occasionally run out to chase the sandpipers before returning to my side. As her vision dimmed she would sometimes turn and follow the closest set of feet she could see.
And no, they were not always mine. I had to spend less time running and playing and more time tuned into my little girl dog. She wouldn't knowingly leave me, but things changed over the years. On the last few trips I had to carry Kiwi over the dunes and roll out her blanket so she could bask in the sun and sniff the ocean's scents. She loved the beach, and I loved being there with her.
When I got home today I mixed the vial of sand with a small amount of Kiwi's ashes. You see, today Kiwi begins yet another journey and I wanted some our beach to travel along with her. A friend is leaving for Africa today and she is taking this small part of my girl back to her roots. My 3/4 Avongara girl's journey has begun.
See BAKARI'S NIGHT TIME ADVENTURES in the last Wrinkler.
