"Breakin' Up is Hard to Do!"

"Don't take your love away from me!

Don't you leave my heart in misery!

If you go, then I'll be blue!

'Cause breakin' up is hard to do!

Come-a, come-a down dooby do down, down,

Come-a, come-a down dooby do down, down!"

(I love the 'come-a, come-as')

(Lyrics by Neil Sedaka, in case you were interested)

You know, there sometimes comes a point in a relationship, where you just have to sit down and ask yourself, "Is this really working? Are we able to give each other what we need? Is it really worth the sleepless nights, the chewed up sprinklers and the trampled on garden?" And you really need to be honest with yourself and if changes need to be made, then changes need to be made. Last summer a little doggie found us (http://www.kristen-thehappygardener.blogspot.com/2011/07/just-passin-through-maam.html). She needed a home and she was pretty cute and nice, so we decided to let her stay. She was a sweet little doggie and we loved her, but she was also a very high maintenance little doggie. The vet said she had some terrier in her and she just had a lot of energy and needed a lot of attention. She barks a lot at night and chews everything and digs in my garden and jumps on you every time you go outside. I know, I know, you say, "She just has bad manners. You need to work with her." And you know, you're right. We probably could have saved the relationship if we would have spent more time with her. But... it just didn't happen. Another thing that she did was bite people. She was a very protective little doggie and she hated strangers. The act that sealed her fate happened the week before Christmas when Missie Lou had a little friend over and Sparky bit her. Drew blood. Not a lot. But she did. Yes, I know. If we would have taken the time to introduce Sparky to E that might not have happened, but.... there's just a lot of "should've, could've, would'ves" in this situation and it all boils down to.... we are not dog people. We don't love dogs enough to be able to put the time in that they need. We love the idea of a dog. We love dogs in movies and in pictures, in television and in books. But not in real life. We are cat people. We have three kitties who do just fine on food and water, sleeping on their cushions in the garage and enjoying a little attention now and then. Yes, I know that cats aren't nearly as affectionate and cooperative as dogs. I couldn't even get a decent picture of Nikki. She just does what she wants. But, it's a relationship that works. And that's what ya gotta go with! And so, Sparky is going to live with my brother and his family. They live in the mountains. They have another dog so Sparky will have a friend. And the thing is... they love dogs. They love animals, period. I think Sparky will be happy there. Although we'll be kind of sad without her.