Raghav Sharma Week 13: It All Started When?"
Now, realistically, I was thinking of the title of "Once Upon A Time", but that just makes it a "make believe story"; now what if we changed that to something about real life?
It all started when I was a 1st grader, and I was playing basketball in the park with my parents. I saw a family, who was walking their dog and playing fetch. The feeling of watching a beautiful golden doodle returning the ball back to their owner was the greatest thing to witness, except obviously Stephen Curry, the "goat" of basketball. From that day onwards, I knew I needed, or should I say, wanted a dog.
The convincing process was definitely not an easy one. I made numerous slideshows, presenting in front of my family during dinner time, on how a dog would help our lives. From walking everyday to making us more independent, I included it all in my slides. Now, I was near 7 years old, so when my parents said no, I did the usual 1st grader incident and started crying. Now, when that happened, my parents promised me they would get me one. The usual happened, life moved on, but wanting a dog was still there. I kept reminding my parents that they promised, and they kept saying soon.
Now, the horrific Covid struck in 2020, where we were all isolated at home. No where to go, and practically super bored at home. Now, I have gotten older and I would like say more wise, so I asked them again. But this time, there was a different answer. We filled out the form, and I still remember the date, September 1st, and the excitement was something I can't explain in words. We got the email back, and went through the process, background checks, etc.
September 16th, the day I pick up my golden doodle Ozzie, and really was a dream come true. I couldn't sleep the night before, and I was so excited.
It all started when I met Ozzie, he wasn't just any dog, he was my dog.
This is my dog, Ozzie.
Hi Raghav! My little brother read part of your blog over my shoulder and said, "Michael Jordan is the goat of basketball." Anyway, I don't want to get off-topic. Your blog was super relatable since I had wanted a dog for the longest time as a child. I begged my parents to get one at least every three business days, but they always said it was too much responsibility. I thought I would get one for my fifth birthday, but I got my little brother instead (who I could have done without). I finally got a black Labrador in 2020 (like when you got your dog), and he is definitely one of the best things in my life. So, it's nice to know that you had that experience too! Thank you for sharing your blog, especially the adorable picture of Ozzie!
ReplyDeleteHey Raghav! I loved your story! Although I don't have a dog, I can definitely relate to the feeling of comfort found by having a pet. I believe for me it all started in 2018, that was when we brought Marshmallow home.
ReplyDeleteMarshmallow was no more than a few weeks old when I first laid eyes on him. He was about the size of a miniature stuffed animal whose body would bury my hands in fluff of white whenever I picked him up. 11 years old was my age when I he entered my home and I made a place for him in a cardboard box cut-out to make space for a bowl of carrots and lettuce, a bottle of water attached to the roof, and a thick grey blanket spread thin on the surface of where Marshmallow would sleep.
I remember brushing him and watching his fur paint the air with white strands. I remember finding the spot between his two long ears and kissing it time-to-time as he fell asleep on my shoulders with his front legs tucked in and his back legs arched out against my chest. I remember when he turned 3 and we had moved to a new house, with a new backyard, and it felt as if though the world changed for him as much as it had for me.
I was now 14, ambitious to the bone, and on the horizon to explore a new environment filled with a sea of unfamiliar faces and places I had known but never seen with my own eyes. Just like Marshmallow, who ran across the green till his feet had blended with the grass and the white of his body had matched with the hue of the land, I too had planted my feet and blended in with a world so ripe with others who ran with me. And my newfound journey, no greater than four years, had found its place among the paths of others who swayed towards the fruitful opportunities that change presented.
Marshmallow became a talisman of change up until the two short years that followed him to his death. He found solace in nature, freedom in the air, and family in the eyes of me and my sister. His frantic jumps, his prolonged nap times, his exuberant bursts of energy, and his frightful escapes from the jaws of my sister's cuddle-friendly hands all became eternalized images in the ever-evolving abyss of my memory.
Marshmallow wasn't just any bunny, he was a pile of memories warming against the flames of my heart.
Hey Raghav! I really enjoyed reading your blog about your dog ozzie. I remember the times when you had shown me your dog while we were on call, and I hope I will get to meet him! Just like you, I really wanted a dog and convincing my parents was not easy. Doing double the amount of chores I had and doing everything that would please my parents to get me a dog was extremely hard. It even got to a point were I started to stop going outside and hanging out with my friends just so I can finish up on all of the chores I had promised to do. All this work still didn’t convince my parents that I was ready for a pet, but it still did not affect me as much. My cousins had just decided to get a dog and I had the opportunity to pick him up. On June 2024, I picked up Enzo.
ReplyDeleteHi Raghav! Your story about getting your dog was so heartwarming to read! It is nice to know that there are some people out there who did get their dream of owning a pet. I have been convincing my parents to get a cat since I was in 3rd grade, but they still have not budged. Your small details, like the information you put on the slideshow to convince your parents to get a dog (I’m taking notes), or the date you guys filled the form to finally get one, were really fun to read about. I also liked how you used the phrase “it all started when” for the moment you discovered your longing for a dog, to the moment you got Ozzie. It gave your blog an impactful and heartwarming conclusion. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog!
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ReplyDeleteHi Raghav,
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very touching to read, reading about the buildup that prompted the decision for your family to finally adopt Ozzie was very interesting to read. Although I have never had a pet before, I have experienced what it is like having one. Also during the pandemic, on one very fateful day an incredibly fluffy and disheveled tabby cat approached us from the backyard because she had smelled the homemade orange oven-baked chicken my mom had made for dinner. She started meowing aggressively next to the screen door until it attracted our attention, and when we noticed we gave her a few long strips of chicken. The cat snatched it and slid back into the shadows, only momentarily for her to approach us again with even MORE cats. We assumed that that was the rest of her litter, so we began to feed them after that. They brought us immense joy and hope while we waited for Covid to subside. Reading your blog reminded me of all the memories of these cats, as we sadly moved away from the house that we met them at. The way you ended your blog is very heartwarming, as well as the picture of Ozzie too!