![\"Babe\"](\"https:\/\/pmtoo.jeanschara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/DSCF0459-1-e1481587134960.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere were a few things I wanted as a kid but my parents said I couldn’t have until I was out of the house and financially responsible for myself.\u00a0 Motorcycles. St. Bernards. I think those were the only two things I can remember my parents telling me I was on my own for.<\/p>\n
Shortly after I reached my first duty station in Montana, an ad appeared in the paper.\u00a0 I ran for two weeks. It was for a five year old St Bernard.\u00a0 I was worried about why anyone would be giving away a five year old St. Bernard.\u00a0 I had to go to the field, but I told my then husband to check on it.<\/p>\n
When I came back, there was a large, easy going St Bernard in the house.\u00a0 She came with her own sleeping bag — bed. She was a great dog.\u00a0 She had some withering in her hips, and I can only conclude someone didn’t want to deal with an aging, crippled St Bernard.\u00a0 Her name was Babe, and she was the light of our lives.\u00a0 She was a wonderful dog.\u00a0 We’d go out for ice cream and take her with us.\u00a0 She got her own single scoop, which her tongue would wrap around, and she’d swallow it whole.<\/p>\n
She was a terror on window screens.\u00a0 We bought a role of window screen material and repairs every screen she punched through in the house.\u00a0 We knew when she’d be bad, because her mannerisms gave it away.\u00a0 There was really only one time.\u00a0 I had beef ribs on the counter to thaw.\u00a0 She’d been left alone in the house.\u00a0 The ribs were gone, and she was miserable (too much, even for her).\u00a0 Those big sad eyes looked up at me.\u00a0 All you could do is say, “Baabe.” And she heard your disappointment and looked even sadder.\u00a0 We never had to yell at Babe.\u00a0 She could tell from the tone of your voice you were unhappy with her, and she worked all the harder not to disappoint.<\/p>\n
We had fun with her.\u00a0 Here’s one of my favorite photos of her:<\/p>\n
We had four wonderful years with her before she died. My only regret was not bringing her into our home a week earlier. She was a special dog.\u00a0 We had her cremated, and I still have her ashes.<\/p>\n
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