1972: A Puppy for Christmas

1972 is the best Christmas of my life. I had worked The first half of my senior year in high school and managed to save up enough money to buy a 1969 Ford Econoline van. It was one of those early vans that had the engine between the passenger and the driver seat. Coming from a family of seven children I was anxious to get out on my own and not have to share a bedroom with two other brothers.

Driving through the bucolic back roads of Bucks County Pennsylvania early on Christmas morning the snow began to fall. It was magical. I was listening to the newly released Neil Young record, After the Gold Rush and smoking a bowl of brown hash. Suddenly at the stop sign at tollgate Road a little white German Shepherd puppy ran across the road in front of me. So beautiful, I stopped and picked her up thinking she must’ve been separated from her owners probably some young child who is seriously missing her. I pulled in some nearby driveways to inquire about whether or not she belong to some heart broke child. I found no one who claimed her. She sat up on the engine cover between the two seats looking out the front window and licking my face. It was a wonderful moment I shall never forget.

I was so excited to have a new companion when I return home Christmas Day to announce that I have a new addition to the family. Needless to say my mother was not excited. Everyday she would go around to each bedroom and collect dirty laundry and every day she would watch and wash the children’s clothes. The thought of having to keep up after a young puppy was not in the plan. We struggled through the next three months as I still had to go to school and leave Iva there.

One day when I came home from school and open the door my mother greeted me with the puppy in her arms and handed it to me and said the puppy hast to go. Since I had the van that I had converted into a hippie van it enabled me to easily sleep and tend to my own needs. I started taking my things out of the house and putting them in my van. Mom had gotten so angry about it she started throwing my clothes out the front door. I’m sure it was heartbreaking for her however I’m sure it was also a big relief to have one child less to tend to and no more puppy.