With This D Ring I Thee Wed...

This post, my friends, is all about Tucker. Tucker is the MAN. He is the namesake of my blog and budding business. A snuggle partner. Couch surfing pal. My heart wrapped up in 56 pounds covered in fur.

When Lucas asked me to marry him, he used Tucker to help him propose. It was only fitting. It isn't that I don't love our other dogs. My love for them is also unquestionable. But Tucker was my first "on-my-own" dog and he and I lived together, by ourselves for awhile. We got each other through some tough times. So as you can tell, he's a special guy. (Not to mention Bpui and Sherman couldn't be trusted to get a ring to me. Tucker obediently came to me when Luke told me to call him. The sweet guy stood in front of me, bedecked in a new collar, shiny ring for me hanging from his D ring. Good boy!) Once we started planning our wedding, the question arose, "do we have any of the dogs at the wedding?" I was not slightly concerned with what people would think- let them think. I knew it was the only wedding I was going to have, and let's face it- we dog people would rather be around our dogs than some people. So people snickering or rolling their eyes was a non-issue. Which canine companions could join us was.

I knew that Bpui would be too much of a handful, bless her little heart. There would be attempts at squirrel chasing, whining, barking. Not to mention the possibility of jumping...mix that with a lace dress and we might have a problem.

Then there was Sherm. Sherman is a) epileptic b)quirky and jerky with his movements and
c)terrible on a lead. Nope, no Sherm.

I felt horrible that they couldn't come, but I also knew Luke and I wouldn't be able to relax if they came. Therefore, Tucker was to do wedding duty alone.

I spent the weeks leading up to the wedding walking through historic Deerfield instead of our usual wooded hikes. After our walk, we would head up the walkway of the main building at Deerfield Academy and up onto the steps where Luke and I were to be wed. Then we would hang out for a while, watching the passers by. I figured if I introduced him to the place where he would need to stand for about a half hour for the wedding, he would be more apt to be calm. (That coupled with a Gentle Leader.)

I had no idea just how wonderful he would be. He behaved as a complete gentleman. He heeled fairly well for my sister-in-law Jess, who kindly took the "Tucker reigns" during the ceremony. He wore his shirt collar and tie with pride. He stood quietly and waited patiently through the ceremony. The photo above is one of my favorites- a quiet moment the photographer captured- my friend Erin reaching back to gently touch the top of Tuckie's head.

My Tucker buddy is one gentle soul. It meant the world to me to have him with us on such a special occasion. Though he doesn't understand the meaning of "standing up for me" at my wedding, it brought me joy to see him standing there with some of the closest women in my life.

He makes my heart soar.

I look forward to the next milestone Lucas and I experience, when I know Tucker will be there, once again, right by my side.