Yesterday would have been our brother Lemmy’s 14th birthday. I was just a puppy, barely 2 years old, when my big brother Lemmy crossed Rainbow Bridge at the tender age of 7 years old. But boy did my quirky brother leave a lasting impression! Sadly, Asa never got to meet him. Therefore, today I’d like to share with you and Asa memories of Lemmy. Please excuse the rambling nature of this post. It’s hard to sum up the character of the best big brother ever.
Tuck and Cover: Now whereas Asa and I like to sit as close as possible on either side of Mom’s rocking chair, Lemmy had his own special spot. Lemmy liked to sit under the rocking chair! He would tuck his paws in so Mom wouldn’t accidentally rock on them, and Mom would awkwardly sit with her legs on either side of Lemmy so as not to disturb him. And in case you’re wondering, yes he liked it when Mom gently rocked back and forth with his head on the center spindle.
Pay No Attention to Me: Under the rocking chair wasn’t the only unique place that Lemmy liked to hang out. Wherever we went Lemmy liked to stand between Mom and Dad’s legs. However, he also knew how silly this must have looked and had a great sense of humor. Mom will never forget the time a short woman, wearing a long skirt, came to our house to sell something. Lemmy really liked his new best friend, and cozied up in his favorite spot. After her initial surprise, this woman didn’t miss a beat and just kept right on talking, with Lemmy standing there happily wagging his tail. Mom still laughs when she thinks of that day. Lemmy made a lasting impression on that woman too, because years later she returned, and looked genuinely sad when she learned that Lemmy was no longer with us.
Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle: In addition to where he liked to hang out, Lemmy also had his own unique perspective on being petted too. When he would emerge from under the rocking chair, he didn’t want his head petted like Asa enjoys. Nor did he demand a belly rub, which is my favorite spot. Nope, Lemmy was a big fan of the hind end scratch, and would wiggle his bum and stomp his paws in pure delight when he got it. Now for those who knew Lemmy, they thought nothing of it. But boy did he get weird looks when greeting someone for the first time. He would back his rear end up to them and start wiggling for them to pet it!
Stop and Smell the Flowers: It was Lemmy who taught me the importance of neighborhood patrol. However, he had a much different work ethic than me. Whereas I will not rest until I walked the entire beat, Lemmy would just randomly stop to enjoy the view, by flopping on his belly and refusing to move. There was no budging Lemmy! So Mom and Lemmy spent many a sunny afternoon on the side of the road watching the clouds roll by. For commuters not accustomed to this sight, they would stop and ask if he was ok, or if they needed help, to which Mom would smile and reply with “just taking time to stop and smell the flowers.”
Round and Round: Adventures were a whole different story though. Lemmy never flopped on his belly during a hike. Instead he wanted to take it all in at once, and would insist on walking in circles around Mom and Dad, while they continued walking forward. When people would comment about this odd behavior, Mom would respond with, “we’re homeschooling him on how the Moon orbits the Earth while traveling through the Solar System.” Lemmy’s behavior no longer looked odd after that, probably because the people thought they all were crazy.
Let It Snow: Now most dogs enjoy playing in the snow, but Lemmy took his love of winter to whole new level. Just the mere sight of a few flakes falling would send Lemmy wildly spinning by the door to go out. It didn’t matter if it was in the middle of the night either. He wasn’t going to miss rolling in the first snow. Even when he was sick and could barely stand, his whole demeanor would brighten at the sight of snow. No one will ever match his enthusiasm for winter. From the first flakes to the last patch of snow, Lemmy treasured it all. In fact, as spring came and patches of snow were harder to find, Lemmy would drag Mom into neighbors’ yards so he could enjoy it one more time.
Rain Rain Go Away: Now as much as Lemmy loved snow, he hated rain. Well more specifically, he hated thunder storms. He was around before the days of “thunder shirts,” so relied on Mom to comfort him. Mom was fortunate to work at a place that understood. So when she knew a storm was coming, Mom would rush home to sit under the kitchen table with him. According to Lemmy, that’s the safest place to be during a storm. He had Mom so well trained, that to this day when a storm is coming she still thinks she must get home to Lemmy.
Good Trainer: Another way Lemmy trained Mom and Dad was they had to hold his bone for him to chew it. It all started as a puppy when he couldn’t control his favorite chew toy with his big floppy paws, and would get frustrated. Mom would take pity and hold it for him. As he grew into those paws and got more dexterity, he still insisted that Mom or Dad should hold it, and they usually happily complied.
Not a Mean Bone in His Body: Speaking of bones, when it came to my relationship with Lemmy I figured out from day one that there wasn’t a mean bone in his body. Would you believe he hid behind Dad when he was first introduced to me? Not once did Lemmy try to discipline me when I was a puppy, or even growl to get his own way. He would simply just patiently put up with my antics, with little more than a sigh.
The Best Big Brother: Ok, I admit I may have taken advantage of his gentle demeanor at first. However, as I matured I realized Lemmy was special and needed me to protect him. That’s why when Lemmy got sick with Cushing’s Disease, I put aside my puppy ways and spent many an hour just cuddling him and keeping him company. The day we said goodbye to Lemmy was the saddest day for our family. He truly was one of a kind, and is deeply missed.
Thank you for letting me share these memories with you and Asa today about my quirky big brother, the best big brother anyone could ask for, the one and only Lemmy, November 29, 2006 ~ April 18, 2014.
