These are two of my favorite memories.  They are stuck together under a piece of laminate.  The top one is Brandi and Bailey in Ocean Shores in 1999. Brandi was a shy but very sweet Chow Chow mix. She was Brandon’s before we met. I lovingly called her my red headed step child. She gave the best hugs and on her head was the softest fur you’ve ever felt. I always said I’d take a swatch of her beautiful fur to the hair salon and have them match her red for me…so pretty. Bailey is the other dog here.  She was a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier rescue show dog. In true terrier form she had a lot of spring in her step. Smart, loyal and fiesty. She was mine before Brandon and I met.

The “girls” got along most of time unless there was a treat or food involved then forgetaboutit. Once Brandon had to break up a fight. He picked up Brandi and jumped in front of Bailey. Well, I guess she couldn’t stop her momentum because she bit him right in the hiney. I saw it all because I was on my way to help him until that happened and I never made it. I collapsed in a ball of laughter on the spot. I choked out the words, “I’m sorry” and “are you ok?” between my gasps for air.  He took it all in great stride and right then and there I knew he’d make a good, fair and patient dad.

This all happened before we were married. Once he proposed we knew we would be a good fit after having gone through so much together in such a short time…such as dog fights aka “chick fights”.

THE BOTTOM PHOTO: Us in Acapulco on vacation 1999

This is where you can tell Brandon has a bit of Mexican in his blood. What a beautiful, er, handsome tan he gets each year! And then there’s me. I really like this photo. I wish I never would have noticed that my nose is terrifically tan while the rest of my face is well, Norwegian.  I am greatly proud of my Norwegian heritage but shouldn’t we have nice tans too to protect from the harsh sun reflecting off all the snow there?

The necklace I’m wearing was bought for me by Brandon at an Acapulco street vendor stand. We loved shopping there. So many bright colors, all the art and colorful characters there in a maze of booths. One even adopted us. He looked like Mister Miagi from Karate Kid. When I lost Brandon once I walked around saying, “Marco!” then listening intently for him to reply, “Polo!”  Mister Miagi helped. I tried to explain Brandon’s name to him in my high school level Spanish (which I’m sure is completely eloquent ;)) but he insisted on staying by my side hollering, “Marco!” “Marco!”

“You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.”― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

By Dawn and Brandon,