"Here Yeller,
Come back Yeller
Best Dog-gone Dog In The West
Old Yeller was a hunter
A rarin’ tearin’ hunter
In many chase he knew just how to run
And when he hunted trouble
He always found it double
And that’s when old yeller had fun
Old Yeller was a fighter
A rootin’ tootin’ fighter
In many scrap he knew just what to do
A rough and ready feller
Although his coat was yeller his bold texas heart was true blue”
-Old Yeller Theme Song, Disney 1957
Have you ever seen this movie? It’s great! I was lucky enough to be left home with the Television on one day when it came on. Seeing as I am blind, I could really only listen to the movie. I don’t know why they call the dog “Old Yeller”. He’s clearly a German Shepherd. What with his bravery and loyalty? The ending really choked me up.Which leads me into my next bit of good news. Yesterday, I got adopted! This great family from Trinidad, Colorado drove three hours just to pick me up. I feel like I’m living the life of ‘Old Yeller’. I have my own little boy who I can nearly look in the eyes. He calls me “Kesser”.
Just like in 'Old Yeller', the father has gone somewhere. I imagine to a trading outpost to pick up the little boy’s horse? At any rate, I wish I’d been there when he left to hear him give me the charge to protect everyone. I’ll do it anyhow, but it really would have felt like I was living the movie if that had happened.
My first night, I was ready to crawl into the little boy's closet and bed down for the night, when he called me over and patted his bed.
“Kesser,” he whispered. “Up here Kesser”.
Now I haven’t been up in a bed in years. I put my paws up and tried to propel upward with my back legs. To my dismay, I couldn’t do it. But then the most wonderful thing happened. My little boy crawled down out of bed, and heaved and hoed until my legs found a place where I could get a grip and climb on up. He jumped up next to me and I lay down right next to him, his little arms wrapped around my neck. I fell asleep with his warm breath on the back of my neck.
I pray at night for my real Daddy (not the Daddy here, whenever he comes home). I pray too for my daughter, B’Ehllana, who I shared the closet with for so many years. I hope she understands. I miss all of them, but I have to say, having my own family is everything my Daddy said it would be.
As the weeks go by, the memories of my old life fade. I see the little boy clearer each and every day. Though my eyes are mostly blind, a little light trickles in. I see his outline as he grows.
But most of all, I see his heart. And I don’t need eyes to see that.
Signing Off,
Kess
