Max & Me: Act III - The Marley Puppy!

Come spring it was time to explore the world with our brand new puppy. We had taught him his name  Max, his wobbly feet were now more stable and he was learning basic obedience commands like ‘Heel’ , ‘Walk’,  ‘Easy’ ,’Keep walking Max’  and ‘Halt’.

One of our first trips with him, was to watch the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. We went around the tidal basin and Max got to explore his first gig at real social networking. A tug here, a jump there, a lick here, a wag there, the world was a brilliant place with something called humans in it. He had the heart big enough  to love them all immeasurably. It was one huge rushed overdose of love from him towards one and all and most in turn showed him their abundant adoration. For one little Labrador puppy, it was one big happy place to be in.

As we went round the tidal basin, kids and adults alike, said just one thing, ‘Oh, the Marley puppy’, ‘ Look,  the Marley puppy’ , ‘There’s the Marley puppy’ , ‘Mom, the Marley puppy’, ‘Dad,  the Marley puppy’.

At that time, I hadn’t read or watched Marley and Me, both of which I later did. All I knew was that one and all were admiring my fur ball. I let myself fall a little behind Max and daddy and lost myself in the resounding bliss, of Marley puppy compliments, that came from everyone,  after he crossed them. I had my very own Marley puppy and the rest of the journey was no less exciting as Marley’s own, just that Max is ‘The World’s Best Dog’.

Max & Me - Act II: Be My Valentine!

Fast forward a month and we were back home actively looking for a puppy to fill the home and hearth with fuzziness. It was time to realize the long unfulfilled wish  for that big friendly Labrador retriever.

The initial search took us to a website with several adorable Labrador pups, with exotic names like Rani and Rajah. We were hooked. But on google searching a little about the breeders, I found that they were Amish puppy mill owners, convicted for animal cruelty in the past. So that lead was abandoned.

Next was the American Kennel Club route. We picked an AKC certified breeder who bred pedigreed Champion pups. Champion breeds are ones who were sired by a dog who had won championships. He told us that a litter of ten pups had just been born, but all of them were already booked by other people. We would have to wait for the next litter in May, which was acceptable to us. A few days later, we received a call from him - one of the pups got canceled. Bingo! He was ours!!

It was on Valentine’s Day of 2009, that the purest love I have ever experienced, walked into my life, with little wobbly steps. His real doggy mom Mae, groomed my hand while I held him, with pleading eyes. I could only assure her that I would take good care of him.

In my arms, he witnessed the beautiful world outside,with his large droopy eyes, for the first time. I definitely said ‘Yes’, when this eight week old, seven pound fur ball asked me , ‘Be My Valentine’.

Max & Me: Act I- A Christmas Miracle

It was the joyous time of Christmas and we were in the City of Joy, Kolkata. Unlike in the US, where Christmas is a quiet family affair, in India everyone is out on the streets celebrating, mostly in gastronomic delights. 

We were there for our yearly trip to India and staying at the condo we still owned in the city, at that time, for the duration of our visit.

Along with the pleasures of the delectable Bengali cuisine, I also splurged myself with some gold and a lot of costume jewelry at Anjali jewelers in Gol Park. One thing that refuses to leave my memory though, is the delicious Mongines fruit cake, that my classmate from NIFT, Rachna had brought while visiting.

 Mongines is a famous bakery chain in Kolkata and used to be my favorite stop, when I lived there earlier. The cake came in fancy festive packaging and true to the stores punchline ‘ Moner Jinish ’ (things the mind loves) , it has lingered in my mind.

Amidst those material pursuits, unbeknown to me, in the other side of the world, my destiny was being written in liquid gold. It was the holy night of Christmas and a mother went into labor. Max was born.