Ode to Samo

Oh, Samo today marks one year you turned our family of two into three.

I must admit it was not love at first sight for me.

Oh, Samo your newborn baby fur was unevenly shooting out in different directions throughout your tiny seven pound body with a mass of fur sprouting out from between your brows.

The lady who had you noticed my apprehension and did her best to persuade me.

Oh, Samo I pointed out the mass of hair between your brows.

“Not a big deal,” the lady said.

Within seconds her right hand gripped hair clippers and the lady gave you a trim between your brows.

Right in the middle of the Norco CVS parking lot.

Oh, Samo I was mortified. I stared at the lady’s hand holding onto your newborn baby fur.

The lady released your newborn baby fur to the ground.

My eyes followed as the wind blew away your newborn baby fur.

Oh, Samo the lady proceeded to cut your nails.

Right in the middle of the Norco CVS parking lot.

Oh, Samo your little nails darted in different directions to the ground as I stood watching in bewilderment.

All the while you let the lady do this to you.

Had you given up?

Did you not have any hope left?

Oh Samo, Papi really wanted you and I really wanted to support his wish.

But I was scared. 

I was very scared.

Oh, Samo I am not sure why.

“Could you give my husband and I and hour to discuss this?”

“Umm, no. I’m late for a Rodeo,” the lady said.

“We will take her,” your Papi declared.

We made the trek back home from our meeting place in the parking lot of CVS in Norco to the Westside in complete silence as your Papi cradled you in his arms and you fell asleep. 

Oh, Samo you probably felt safe and warm for the first time as you rested against your Papi’s chest.

We were not prepared to come back as a family of three, so we drove straight to the pet store.

“Look at her angle wings!” the young lady at the pet store said.

Oh, Samo you have angel wings along your back that I did not notice.

You lived your first four months in a kennel night and day away from your birth Mama and in complete isolation instead.

Oh, Samo when Papi showed you the backyard and placed you down you jumped high into the air.

Your tiny paws had never known the feeling of cement only steel.

Cement was new to you.

A harness was new to you.

Going on walks was new to you.

Oh, Samo naming you was hard.

I never dreamed of owning a dog so I was not prepared.

Your Papi left it up to me.

I liked your color.

Oh, Samo the only thing I came up with was naming you after my beloved city.

Santa Monica is where your Mami was conceived and born.

Oh, Samo it is this very city that made me. 

“Samo is not a labradoodle and she will not grow to be thirty pounds,” the veterinarian said.

Oh, Samo the lady lied to us.

“Samo is a poodle terrier mix and may weigh up to fifteen pounds.”

It did not matter to us.

Oh, Samo you were meant to be our daughter.

My darling. My jewel.

You began to mirror back to me parts of myself that still needed healing.

Oh, Samo it was a little challenging at first.

As sweet as you are there were days I wanted my old life back.

Your Papi left for work in the mornings and left us two alone.

Oh, Samo I did not know how to handle caring after someone all day.

I soon realized the gift you are to me.

Oh, Samo you are my connection to motherhood.

You are exquisite.

Oh, Samo I am no longer scared.

I call you my diamond in the ruff.

After your first grooming I was able to notice your lovely features.

Oh, Samo you have gorgeous almond shape eyes.

You have long delicate curly eyelashes.

Every other nail is black and white.

I adore your limp left ear.

Oh, Samo you are special.

My favorite thing to do is to wake you in the wee hours of the morning.

I adore carrying your sleepy tiny body out of your crate and bringing you to bed.

Oh, Samo I savor these moments.

You nuzzle into my chest while my arms wrap around your tiny body and we sleep.

I love your little snore and warm breath against my chest.

I love your scent.

Oh, Samo I treasure the feeling of your tiny heart beat against mine.

You have given me the opportunity of a lifetime.

Oh, Samo I have the good fortune of healing by way of you.

You made me a Mami.

I am in love with you.

Oh, Samo I get to protect you.

I get to make up songs for you.

I get to do silly dances for you.

Oh, Samo I get to smother you with kisses.

I get to play with you.

I get to kiss your soft belly.

Oh, Samo I get to make sure you live your best life.

You turned my heart into clay and I fell under your spell.

Oh, Samo this is why your middle name is Magic.

You magically appeared into our lives.

Oh, Samo my darling. My jewel. You made me.

Every day I place my third eye up to yours and say, “Here is to twenty plus years together.”

Oh, Samo so it is.