Last weekend, October 21st through the 23rd, was Parents and Family Weekend at Tufts and a bunch of other colleges and universities. The weekend is a time for families to visit their son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, grandchild, or other relative and gives the parents an excuse to make their appearance on campus and the students an excuse to get meals off-campus. Being local, I try to see my parents fairly often, so Parents Weekend is never really a big deal for me. This year, however, was different.
My brother is a freshman at Brown University, and his Parents Weekend fell on the same day as mine this year. Naturally my parents do not get to see him as much as they do me, so they decided to take the opportunity and make 1.5 hour trip down to Providence. Now this is where things get interesting: we also have a dog, but trailing her around while visiting my brother was not an option for my parents. Leaving her alone was also not an option because what cruel person leaves an animal unable to go to the bathroom for more than twelve hours?
Anyway, this year for Parents and Family Weekend my special visitor was my dog, Bella.
Bella is a four year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who is technically my dog after getting her for my seventeenth birthday. She loves people and is constantly getting compliments for her soft fur, big eyes, and freckles on her nose.
Overall, it was an awesome decision and weekend, and now I am going to tell you all about the emotional roller coaster that we both experienced when she was here.
1. Initial Excitement
Yay! I get to see my puppy! She gets to see me! We can relax and procrastinate together! Nothing in this world could be better. Time to snuggle and get covered in kisses.
2. Confusion sets in...
Bella realizes my dad and mom are not there anymore and she starts to cry. She wonders: Where did they go? What is this room I've never seen before? Why are there so many steps to get up to her room? I wonder: What can I do to make her calm down? Will she be like this all night? Why ARE there so many steps to get up to my room? After these internal dialogues, there was lots of whining involved for several minutes.
3. Time to Decompress
Pause. Settle down. Time to watch a movie, snuggle, play with chew toys (the dog, not me!), and get ready for bed. Everything will be okay.
4. ...Or Not
A fire alarm on the one day my dog is in the building? And at 2am? Really? I do not need people giving me weird looks when I carry a frightened dog downstairs while I'm wearing my pajamas and wearing slippers that look just like my dog. Luckily, Bella was more amused than that (she loved the *excitement*)
5. Restlessness throughout the night
For the rest of the night Bella was on the bed then off the bed. On the rug, off the rug. Asleep, then suddenly pacing around the room. All I could think of was, "Why the hell is she walking around at 4am? She better not pee in my room. What if someone hears her? Ugh, why did I choose this sleeplessness again, even if she is cute?"
6. Satisfaction
NOW I remember why I chose sleeplessness: because I could show her off to passersby, play with her outside, and have an excuse to not do homework. Basically living the dream.
7. Unamused
To the dad who took a picture of Bella because she was "his dog's twin" to the student who put her on Tufts' Dog-spotting Facebook page: Leave. Us. Alone. Yes, Bella is cute. Yes, I will let you pet her and say hi. But why do you have to take pictures of her, grab her face, and make her pose for your own stupid wishes? Leave the poor puppy alone!!
8. Exhausted
Being cute is so tiring. Time for a nap, some more snuggles, and some snacks.
9. The Departure
I pack up all of Bella's things, bring her out to my parents, and head back to my dorm. Saddest part of all? Seeing her look through the window back at me and wondering why I'm not coming with her *tears*.
10. Hopeful
At least I will get to see her again in a few weeks. She may not be on campus with me anymore, but I love her so much and I know she will be as excited to see me again as I am to see her.
I love you, Bella Rose! Can't wait to see you soon.
