Saturday, July 17, 2010

A Regular Love Fest

Uncle Ray, my mother’s brother, was visiting a friend in Marina del Rey a few months ago, so we arranged to meet at the Rose Café in Venice for brunch. I brought Tommy along so we could walk on the beach afterwards. When we finished brunch, Uncle Ray and Aunt Sylvia came out to the car to meet him.

I opened the Mazda hatchback door, and Tommy jumped up to put his front paws over the back seat, where he was sitting, to face the action. One ear up, one ear down, he welcomed Uncle Ray with his irresistible, exuberant self. Uncle Ray laughed and moved closer to scratch him behind the ears and stroke his head, actions akin to winding up an Energizer bunny. I held Tommy’s collar to try and restrain him while, with the force of a bull, he pulled to lick Uncle Ray right on the kisser.

Instead of recoiling or turning away, Uncle Ray closed his eyes, pursed his lips and moved right in on Tommy, who proceeded to slobber all over his face. Uncle Ray smooched Tommy right back, repeatedly, cooing all along. It was a regular love fest.

I come from a long line of crazy dog people.

9 comments:

  1. Gotta love Uncle Ray, everybody does, even tommy!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is funny. Especially since I I know these people. Gotta love all of the Viola-Campisi clan members! I hope when I meet Tommy he gives me a big kiss, too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tommy is a good judge of character, so of course he loved Uncle Ray. Liz, you can be sure that Tommy will give you a big kiss, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I promise I'll greet Tommy in the same way when I meet him. Dog kisses are the best.

    ReplyDelete
  5. And you will have a friend for life, Petrea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Terrie Paladino ViolaSun Jul 18, 11:27:00 PM 2010

    A dog-loving family indeed! We just left Mojito at Poppy Ray's, and I am not quite sure who was more ecstatic - Poppy or the dog! They are both thoroughly enamored with one another. The fact is, Tommy could eat Mojito for breakfast, BUT... he'd have to catch him first! We don't call our baby White Lightening for nothin'!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tommy seems like a great dog. We would love to meet him some day. Gary and I are wonderful dogsitters now that our two are in doggy heaven and it doesn't look like we are getting another dog for awhile. It was great seeing you Sue at the family reunion. It was alot of fun. One more fantastic memory for our lives.
    Pat and Gary

    ReplyDelete
  8. Terrie, that's so funny about Mojito and Poppy Ray. Mojito is a good judge of character, too. I hope I never have to see Tommy chasing Mojito. That would be a scary sight!

    Pat and Gary, oh, I didn't know your two are in doggy heaven now. I'm sorry... these dogs definitely get under our skin and into our hearts so it's hard to lose them. Great that you can help out other people by being great dogsitters.

    Vermont was a blast. Hope I get to see you all again soon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, and we all do love Uncle Ray. That reminds me of another funny dog story...Arrow, our over-grown golden retriever/goofy dog and the time he ate the 5lb. bag of chocolate that Uncle Ray brought us. And I'm glad everyone had a good time at our party. I'm still waiting for the pics, but thanks Patty for your copies. They are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete