Marley and Me

OK, how come no one told me that “Marley and Me” by John Grogan was so damn funny? All I ever heard about it was that the ending of this book was so sad, which made me not want to read it – and yes, it was sad. I cried for a solid 3 chapters, because I knew how it felt to be them at the end of Marley’s life… but OH MY GOD – I laughed harder while reading this book than I’ve laughed in a really long time.

Have you read this book? Have you ever owned a dog? Even if you owned a dog who never mis-behaved, you will totally be able to picture this dog doing all this stuff. And, if you’ve owned dog that could try the patience of a Saint you’ll nod with me when I say I can picture the yellow blur that is Marley, I can picture him vividly. I can picture him trying to climb out of the moving car, sniffing up the other dogs at obedience class, dragging his owners for a walk, and the insanity that a crazy dog brings to your life. I know what it is to not be able to board a dog because it’s too crazy, I have seen with my own eyes what happens AFTER a dog eats a sofa, I absolutely am akin to Marley’s family when they come home and their dog has gotten out of his crate like Houdini. My husband has repaired fences our dog has chewed through in under an hour because she was terrified of… well, we don’t know for sure. I remember what its like to have a dog run off with your stuff and do everything possible to drag the chase out for what feels like forever. I have experience with a dog whom I’m sure must have been an OB/Gyn in a former lifetime. Dogs that knock you over with their joy, leave drool ropes on your coat, dig through your hamper to find the dirty underwear, rub their snout in a smelly diaper, and are at the same time the darn sweetest creatures God ever created.

If you haven’t already done so, read this book. And laugh. And cry. And laugh.

You’re welcome.