Toto's Tribute

Dear Mom,

I love writing to you, but today I am writing to the old man.  I have to say that I am grateful you lead the way for me.  I pretend you really bother me and I tease you and I eat your food before mom snatches it back up and I take your toys away, but I only do that because I love you don't you know?  Mom is the only one who understands.  I watch you; I look to you; I adore you; I love you.  Tomorrow it is back to the tease, but for now and today I have to say Happy Birthday to one special old man.  I don't know what I would do without you! 

Love,

Toto

Toto's Tea Party

Dear Mom,

I am all up for cuddling.  I really am.  I understand the girl child loves to hug and snuggle.  I am far older than my two years of age and I already realize that she needs a bit 'o love now and then, but......COME ON!!!!   And you didn't even save me!  Oh I tried to run, really.  I had her chasing me all over the kitchen until the father figure came in and yelled.  And then, .... then you plucked me up and out of my stillness into her arms.  You said it was cute.  You even went and got your camera.  You took a picture.  And all the while I was asking you to save me and you didn't.  Don't you love me mom?  Then later lots of girl children came over and my girl child snagged me again and sequestered me in her room.  I was made to have tea with these dolls that look amazingly life like and they are my size.  They were all dressed up in Colonial garb and clothes from the 70's.  Then I was nice, I really was, to let the girl child show all the other girl children MY entire wardrobe:  a blue snowflake sweater, a grey hoodie (YO, PEACE, out....),  an orange pumpkin costume, a seafoam green merMAN costume, a santa coat with jingle hood....really, REALLY!!!   Then....horrors of horrors I was made ...MADE I TELL YOU...to get snuggled in a blue blanket and tucked into a doll's blue stroller and strolled around the girl child's room.  Mom I am seriously wondering if you love me anymore.  After the girl children went home and the girl child was still in her bed and the house was quiet the old man came up to me.  He whispered in my ear and walked away smiling.  The young mom did that to him when she was the girl child's age!  HA!  Now I don't feel so bad.  I still love you mom!

Love,

Toto

Toto's Tension

Dear Mom,

Well......that was a crazy afternoon!  I was very tense after that the whole day.  The old man was in his crate, as usual, sleeping on his pillow bed.  I felt like something was going to happen.  When I started barking, you said, Shhhcht, like the dog whisperer on TV I like to watch.  I couldn't help it....I just had to bark; something was going to happen.  Then I felt the kitchen floor hum.  It got louder and louder with my barking.  The old man came out of his crate and stared at me.....he is always just staring!  The floor started rumbling and that big brown rectangle of a thing in the foyer with the gold colored swaying circle on a stick starting chiming by itself.  The girl child came over and scooped me up and started crying.  What was going on!  I barked louder and louder.  You ran past the shaking brown desk, got our leashes and we ran outside.  Yay!  Run, run, run, run,.....oh...you wanted to stop in the street where everyone was.  I could feel the ground become still.  Let's just run and run....that was fun!  Mom, I didn't like the big trembly shaking thing!  It makes me nervous!  Will you love me forever, mom?

Love,
Toto

Toto the Terrible

Dear Mom,

I am sorry that I made you and the little girl child chase me all over the neighborhood, but I couldn't help it.  I was enjoying a nice warm nap on the deck, except for barking away all those birds that always fly by.  You are welcome for me keeping them away for you.  I bark really loud and long to do that for you.  The little girl child came out and was bouncing her little round bouncy thing...I was watching her.  It bounced up and over the railing into the yard below.  You told her to go and get it and I was worried for her.  She didn't even let me follow her down the stairs, but closed the gate on her.  I whined and whined until you came out onto the deck.  I really wanted to make sure she was safe.  And then YOU went down the stairs.  You tried to close the deck gate on me, too, but I wasn't going to let that happen!  I had to check on the little girl child and pave a safe journey for you down the stairs and into the yard!  When I got down to the bottom I couldn't help it!  The smell of the grass and wind and trees and the scents of all the animals that ever travel through the yard at night was too much.....I ran!  I ran to be free...I ran to find scents and read the yard...I ran to stretch my legs - I have never run so far (except when I made you chase me last winter in your PJ's at 5 AM)...and I ran just to run!  The little girl child ran the fastest...you are very slow!  Run, run, run, run, run, run....oh wait, a smell...can see the girl child running up to me...now run again!  Run, run, run....oh wait, a rabbit must have been here....again that girl child coming up ...and take off!  Run, run...oh wait, I must claim this tree...oh...not done yet....and here comes the girl child!  She caught me!  The father figure came out on the deck to see what was going on and was very loud again.  Well, at least I got to get a ride back in your arms, mom.  Didn't you like carrying me all the way home?  Don't you just love me?  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

To'to's Tail

Dear Mom,

I hope you are noticing my tail.  It goes up and around like a donut and an "O" for Toto.  The old man's tail is just straight like a carrot.  He says, with his British accent to my cockney accent, that they are supposed to look straight like a carrot.  Well, I am different I tell you.  Hey mom!  Look at me and I will wag my tail for you!  Oh wait, don't walk by with all that laundry...stop and notice me!  Oh darn, there you go.  I will follow you down to the basement.  Down, down, down, leap, leap, leap, ...stairs are fun.  Oh yeah...I forgot for a second that I was trying to get you to notice me and my tail!  Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk in front of mom, beside mom, in front of mom....oops...sorry....didn't mean to make you spill that laundry!  Okay you looked at me so tail do your stuff!  Oh wait, you just turned around.  Here we go upstairs again.  Up, up, up, up...sit on the landing 'til you get there....up, up, up, up.  Now will you notice me?  Kitchen!  Toast....oh the glory of the golden cooked bread with the yellow stuff melting in.  Oh!  A piece for me?  Just for me?  The old man isn't up yet.  Okay....wag, wag, wag my tail!  Mom you are the best!  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto the Tattletale

Dear Mom,

Mom!  Did you see that?  I barked for you and you didn't come.  The old man just decided to claim the family room rug right there!  I do NOT want to get blaimed for that again.  I did NOT do that this time.  Mom!  Whine, whine, bark, bark.  Oh wait here comes the girl child.  She is watching the old man finish the claim.  Wait!  Bark, bark, whine, chase tail.  Little girl child, little girl child, did you see that?  Okay....and he is just walking away.  What IS this?  You JUST took us out for our morning jaunt.  The old man can't have this room.  I own this room.  It is where the father figure wrestles with me and where mom holds me and where the little girl child bounces the round chewy rubbery thing with the yellow fuzz on it for me and where the wise one talks to me and where the young mom teaches me.....I own this room.  FINE....I will try and claim the room, too.  Where, where, where....oh, on top of the old man claim...that is where I will stake MY place!  Haha!  Oh no.....here comes the father figure....and he is loud again.  Okay, really....I get out one drop on top of this whole wet spot from the old man and I get blamed!  I didn't do it, really I didn't.....Wait, here comes mom! She will stick up for me!  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto and the Toast

I am so comfortable here under the wise one's bed.  The carpet is soft and new.  I got in trouble when they put it in a short time ago when I claimed it for the wise one.  I will never do that again or I may not be invited back in.  The wise one has left for the Jersey shore they say.  I will miss him and his calm ways...they help me.  Wait...wait...what is that sound!  Yes!  There it is again.  And the lovely smell of cooking bread.  Run, run, run, run, down the stairs, through the family room, run, run, into the kitchen!  Okay....what is HE doing here.  How come the old man is here first?  I am the fastest!  Toast, toast, toast!  I love toast!  Especially the corner pieces with the soft yellow stuff melting in.  Run, spin, run, spin, catch my tail excitedess!  Okay...why does the old man get the first piece?  He is too still.  Mom is saying something to him.  Sit?  Why would you sit to get a piece of toast?  You can't even tell the old man likes it as much as me.  Okay and FINE!  I will ploay along!  Oh!  Now she is talking to me.  Yes, mom I will sit!  Sit....still...stilll...still...YES!  I HAVE THE PIECE OF TOAST!  Hahahahaha!  Now I shall run and be free and growl and jump!  I have the toast, I have the toast!  Thanks for the toast, mom.  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Too Much Toto

Dear Mom,

Today I decided to take charge....just to help the old gentleman dog.  I barked at the phone when it rang early this morning.  I barked at the umbrella outside the front door.  I barked at the rain.  I barked and the leaf that blew and stuck to the glass door.  I barked at the blow up dolphin water toy that has been sitting in the mud room for two weeks, just because I wanted to and just because I can't believe it's been there for two weeks.  I barked at the trash can outside.  I barked at the plate in the sink that slid down and made a noise....I can bark louder than that plate I tell you!  I barked at the mail truck and the FedEx truck and the neighbors coming home from work.  Whew-  I had quite a day being in charge.  But it is all worth it to show you I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto's New 'Tude

Dear Mom,

I have decided to try and be nice to the old man....I mean he must be older than me, right?  He does get grumpy when I try and fake a fight with him.  He is aloof when I run circles around him.  He is SOOOOO slow when we go for walks.  It's still all about me, right?  Well, I have decided that I need to be nice to him.  I have noticed him following me lately and waiting for me.  I don't think he can see that well any more.  I think he is sniffing his way over to me so that I can lead him where we need to go.  I felt bad for him yesterday when he fell down the stairs.  I don't think he legs are working well up and down the stairs anymore.  I think I can grow up a little and help lead him around a little.  I promise to be nice to the old gentleman now.  Will that make you proud of me, mom?  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto and the Missing Mom

Dear Mom,

You were gone all day yesterday again with the girl child.  Dad was so much fun...he played with me and threw ball with me and tugged the sock with me and wrestled with me and took me on a long walk!  Oh, yeah I guess the old man came along, too, but it's all about ME, right!  When we got home you still weren't home.  Then I heard the garage door open and I couldn't help myself.  I barked and whined and ran circles around my tail and you were here!!!....but WAIT!!!!  I smelled a smell....it was all over you and the girl child and all your bags!  Sniff, sniff...I am sniffing ALL the bags you brought in, I am sniffing all of your feet and your pants....I smell the young mom!  But where is she?  I am so sad ....  I smell her but she is not here.  I am so sad I go and lay down in the living room by myself.  Dad tries to make me feel better.  He even lets me sleep up on the bed tonight next to his feet, wow!  I will miss the young mom forever, but you will give me lots of hugs, right mom?  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto and the Tub

Dear Mom,

Tonight I found out what the girl child does before bed!  There was so much water and bubbles in the hollowed out white thing.  You called it a tub.  I was very worried for the girl child.  I mean, she certainly  can't drink all that water!  I tried to reach in and lick up the water for her, but you kept saying, "no, Toto."  Then there were all of these shiny rainbow colored popping things all on the top of the water.  They didn't taste good at all.  I tried to eat them, but you said, "no, Toto."  I was worried the girl child would go under the rainbow fluff on top of the water, but she didn't.  I didn't want her to be wet all over and I tried to get your attention!  I ran circles around my tail and whined for you to get her out, but you said, "no, Toto!"  Then I heard you talking to the girl child about putting ME in the tub sometime!  I ran fast away from there!  Aren't you proud of me?  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto and the Tutu!

Dear Mom,

I have heard you say "tutu" all week!  I have been confused because I will run and stand by your side whenever I hear this.  But you do not look at me, you are holding lots of fooffy skirts and costumes.  You have packed lots of bags and snacks and the house smells like hairspray because you do something to the girl child's hair and it is not long and flowing anymore and you put color on her cheeks and lips! You and the little girl child are gone all the time this week!  Dad takes us out when he gets home, but it is not the same.  I am so happy when you come home at night with all the fooffy skirts and the girl child.  That is why I cry and jump up on you when you come in every evening...even though you smell MORE like hairspray and tutus and for some reason other girl children.... And why is she sleeping so long in the morning?  She can't be tired, she is NEVER tired.  I think she is much like me, always ready to go!  I miss playing with her!  The older gentleman dog is NOT fun to play with even when I try and pretend to let him get me---he is way too grumpy!  I promise to watch out for him though even if you are gone again today!  I love you mom!

Love,
Toto

Toto Take Two

Dear Mom,

Have you figured out that I love you?  Didn't you hear me this morning?  There was a bird out on the deck hopping around.  I barked and barked and barked and barked until it flew away!  I was afraid it might wake up the Father figure who likes to play and wrestle with me.  Aren't you proud of me?  I just knew I did a great job of getting rid of that bird...so was the Father figure, I think.  He came down really fast into the kitchen and told me something really loudly.  I never know what he is saying, but it is always loud!  I am a great dog!  I will sit by the kitchen door and watch for all the birds from now on!

Love,
Toto

Toto's First Tale

Dear Mom,

I am sorry that I was so excited about the new room!  I miss the other younger mom, the one who held me and taught me sit, stay, down and roll over!  Her room looks different now.  I knew something was going on the other day when things in the room were being moved and boxed up.  I do like how you arranged the only thing left in the room since she took everything else.  So much room.  I had to go up there while you were on your errands and show someone that even though she's gone, the young mom is still mine.  That is what I took my time doing all over the room for you when you were gone.  Now when she returns she will know I still love her and that she still belongs to me.  I am sorry you had to put me in time out while you cleaned up!  I love you, mom!

Love, Toto