He's Not 'Only' a Dog!

I was five, maybe six years old, when my mothers aunt and uncle showed up at our home with a silver gray pug that they had aptly named Chato.

Chato, you see, was the reason that my then one, maybe two-year old brother would venture into my aunt and uncles back yard.  I don't know how often we would visit, but I do remember that eventually my aunt and uncle couldn't resist watching the sheer joy my sister, brother and I displayed while playing with Chato's wrinkly face.

Eventually, they made the decision that Chato was better off living with us than with them.   And that is how Chato the First came to be.

Chato the First, according to my mother, watched over my brother while he slept and would warn my mother if he was crying.  Chato also played with my brother and coerced him to waddle into Chato's doggy den while sharing a fruit of sorts.

There are several stories that my mom shares about our first pug-faced family member.  But, unfortunately, we do not have a single photo of Chato, nor do I remember how long he lived with us before he was stolen from our backyard one Halloween eve. (yet another reason why I am not a fan of Halloween!)

As short of a life as he had with us, Chato marked our family history forever.  Because of this, when my parents were about to celebrate their thirty-something wedding anniversary, my youngest brother found it fitting to recreate those memories and adopt another silver gray pug; which we named, of course, Chato (AKA Chatito).

Unlike my limited memories about Chato, my love affair with Chatito begins at first sight and evolves into a mother-son relationship of sorts.  Chatito, I like to tell everyone, is my son, my best friend and my companion.  He is, the love of my life.

Chatito is also the reason I dated my now husband, controlled my Type 2 Diabetes and met my doggy parent neighbors (who now happen to be my closest friends and confidants).  

Chatito is my nurse when I am sick, my companion when I am alone, and my creative partner when I am writing late into the hours of the morning.

Chatito is, of course "a" dog.  But "who" he is, is so much more.  

Today I honor Chatito, the love of my life, for gracing this world and my life for nine years...and, in celebration of all things beautiful, fuzzy nuzzles, snores, asthmatic barks and the most beautiful eyes ever, I invite you to see Chatito in action, even sleeping!

Happy Birthday Chatito!  The world is a much better place because of you!  I love you ugly baby - you are, and will always be, the love of my life.