And it’s my birthday too, yeah. My number one dog is eleven years old today. She has been with me the longest of all the animals. She came into my life when she was just an eight pound puppy in September 1996. Because I never knew her real birth date, I decided to keep things simple and give her mine. She’ll get a special trip out to the pet store tonight to pick out anything she wants. She deserves nothing less.
I was living in Tallahassee, Florida back then, having just finished up a degree at Florida State University. Tallahassee is one of those wonderful small cities where the bus can take you nearly everywhere. And if you’re a student the bus will take you for free. This was an opportunity not to be passed up because parking on campus was a horrendous nightmare. So a lot of us lived close enough to campus to walk and took the bus everywhere else. It was one of these nighttime journeys that lead to my meeting the dog who would soon become my best four legged friend.
The fates intervened that night because as I was heading home for the evening I had a choice of two different buses to take. I ended up on the one with Jackie White who told me she’d found a puppy and asked if I would be interested in having a dog. Hum…a dog. Jackie lived just one apartment complex over from me so my then boyfriend and I set out later that evening to check out this puppy. I knocked on the door, she opened it up, and my eyes immediately fell upon a little fluff ball creature lying under the glass coffee table. It was love at first sight. I scooped that little doggie up into my arms and never let her go.
Ginger and I have had quite a few adventures over the years. She’s been my best friend through all my ups and downs. And she’s been my comfort and joy through it all. So today I salute my darling doggie Ginger. Happy Birthday Girl!
Yay! for you! And yay! for Ginger, too! Birthdays are wonderful gifts in themselves.
Posted by: Brandy | July 25, 2007 at 10:02 AM
HAppy Happy joy joy - enjoy your birthday - hope there is somethng special in you plans.
Posted by: teresa (maggiegracecreates) | July 25, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Happy Birthday, Ginger Girl! Thank you for sharing her story with a happy ending! I'm guessing there's LOTS of doggies treats on the menu?! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | July 25, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Happy birthday both of you :)
Your very belated prize is on it's way to you from the bra contest, hopefully it will be with you soon!
Posted by: Christine | July 25, 2007 at 11:25 AM
what a sweet Gingery dog you have. happy birthday to you both!
Posted by: rebecca | July 25, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Happy Birthday to you both. She is so cute standing there just looking in the camera!
Posted by: Kathleen | July 25, 2007 at 11:43 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELICIA!! How wonderful that you and your pup can celebrate together. I hope you two have a lovely day. I feel like there's been a lot of dog talk in blogland lately (alicia p. of posie gets cosy was having a bit of a puppy dilemma recently) and i've recently been informed that my landladies changed their minds about letting us have a pup- so it's nice at least to read about the other great doggie stories out there.
Posted by: julia | July 25, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Happy Birthday to you, too! Today is also my hubby's birthday!
Posted by: sarah | July 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Happy Birthday, Felicia and Ginger! And many happy returns (perhaps even sooner than you think...). Hope it's a day of treats all around, and a celebration of you.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 25, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Happy Birthday to you, and your gorgeous furbaby. What a face. :-)
Posted by: Jennifer | July 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Many Happy Returns to you both! It is so lovely to have such a faithfull companion. Enjoy your day!
Posted by: Libby | July 25, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Happy Birthday to you Felicia and happy birthday to Ginger! What a sweet, sweet pair you two must be! Enjoy your day and your time together!
PS...Ginger...I hear the pig ears are really good!
Posted by: m i c h e l l e | July 25, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Hapde Burfday to you both!
Posted by: Sarah | July 25, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Gorgeous pup!! My firends jsut gave birth to a baby girl in Tallahassee this weekend, so we may be heading out there soon...
Happy Birthday to Ginger!
Posted by: sara | July 25, 2007 at 12:58 PM
What a great story! My Zoe came to me in a similar phase of life, too - just after college. I can't imagine life without her by my side! A very happy birthday to you both.
Posted by: Tamar | July 25, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Happy birthday to you and your dog!
She looks great for her age!
Posted by: Rose | July 25, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Happy Birthday! It's also my mothers birthday today!
Posted by: Catrin | July 25, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Happy birthday to you both! What would we do without our little furry companions?
Posted by: Robin | July 25, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Happy Birthday.
And she is a beauty.
Posted by: Sarah | July 25, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Happy, happy birthday to both of you!
Posted by: thimbleanna | July 25, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Felicia.. happy Birthday to you and happy birthday to your lovely doggie Ginger!
Posted by: Corry | July 25, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Happy Birthday to both of you!!!!!!! I think it's great that you share your birthday with your best friend :) :)
Do you get to pick out anything you want at the pet store too???? ;)
Posted by: Karyn | July 25, 2007 at 01:52 PM
Happy birthday to you both! I hope your day is a happy one!
Posted by: Randi | July 25, 2007 at 01:56 PM
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!
Posted by: Katherine | July 25, 2007 at 02:05 PM
Happy Birthday to you both!!
Posted by: Stacie | July 25, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Happy birthday to you and Ginger! Ginger looks so sweet -- reminds me a bit of my own dog Lucy. What kind of dog is she?
Posted by: ann | July 25, 2007 at 02:35 PM
Super beautiful dog!
A Big Happy Birthday Ginger!
Looks like she is having a really great time:)Here's to many more memories with her!
Posted by: KnitPastis | July 25, 2007 at 04:03 PM
A very Happy Birthday to you and Ginger! Hope you have a great day.
Posted by: Clare | July 25, 2007 at 04:12 PM
Happy Birthday to you both!! Have a fabulous day filled with chocolate and dog biscuits!
Posted by: Sarah | July 25, 2007 at 05:45 PM
And what a cute dog Ginger is. She is so lucky to have you. Happy birthday too you both. My birthday is Friday so we're both Leos Yeah!
Posted by: Maggie | July 25, 2007 at 07:14 PM
What a lovely tribute to Ginger! Especially love that you *share* birthdays! I hope your day was a good one!
Posted by: kate | July 25, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Happy birthday to you both!! What a wonderful 'love' story. :-)
Posted by: Angelique | July 25, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Happy Birthday to the both of you! She's awfully special -- then again, I have the feeling you are too :0).
Posted by: Angela | July 25, 2007 at 09:50 PM
Happy Birthday, Ginger from the two-legged and four-legged critters here!
Posted by: Marci | July 25, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Duh! Happy birthday to you too Felicia. I get so excited sometimes and type too fast and forget to include everything.
Posted by: Marci | July 25, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Happy Birthday to you and your furry BFF! I love kismet stories for sure. Esp. w/ happy endings. May you have many more years together.
Posted by: Cami | July 26, 2007 at 02:02 AM
Happy Birthday to both. Enjoy your day! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who celebrates their dog's birthday. My dog is from Florida too. Pensacola!
Posted by: Michelle Anderson | July 26, 2007 at 07:00 AM
happy belated birthday to both of you. what a beautiful puppy.
Posted by: maryse | July 26, 2007 at 05:04 PM
Happy birthday to you and Ginger!
Posted by: Stefanie | July 26, 2007 at 06:57 PM
happy birthday, felicia and ginger!!!!! what a beautiful story of love you two have.
my husband went to florida state and finished his degree in 96 also, what a coincidence!
Posted by: Veronica TM | July 26, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Happy birthday Felicia and Ginger. Hope your day was filled with everything wonderful.
Posted by: lera | July 27, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Hope you had a wonderful birthday!!
Posted by: Samantha | July 28, 2007 at 09:54 AM
Happy Belated Birthday, Felicia! Happy Birthday, Ginger!
Posted by: Carrie K | July 29, 2007 at 10:07 PM
happy birthday to you, felicia and your darling dog. hope you both had a lovely day together.
Posted by: melissa | July 30, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Happy belated birthday to both of you! I also have a Ginger, she's just turned 12. Like yours, she's part Chow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/veroc/511702758/
Posted by: Veronique | August 01, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Well happy (very) belated birthday! and thanks for sharing the beautiful story about how you met your adorable doggy :)
Posted by: moni | August 02, 2007 at 05:13 PM
That story is just what I needed after a long day. I adore my chocolate lab best friend! Happy birthday Ginger...and Felicia
Posted by: Vicki | August 07, 2007 at 03:20 PM
Happy belated birthday to both you and your absolutely beautiful dog!!
Posted by: Janine | August 09, 2007 at 10:16 AM