Gossip: My Main Man in Buenos Aires
There is a very special man in my life here in Buenos Aires. Some of you may know about him, some of you may not. This man is a little complicated, he often causes me a great deal of stress, costs me a little too much money and worst of all – hogs the bed. However, night after night I allow him to snuggle up next to me and when he looks at me with his big brown eyes, I tend to forgive all of his stupidity.
Who is this man, you ask?
His name is Padfoot, and he is my beloved puppy.
I received Padfoot as a gift 4 years ago. It was my golden birthday, the year I turned 20 on the 20th. At the time I was dating a boy who was seriously allergic to all animals with fur, something that saddened me deeply. As we were pretty serious, I had all but given up hope on ever owning my own dog. However, my then-boyfriend informed me my gift would be delivered to me and later that day, Padfoot was presented to me. I thought it was a cruel joke. I assumed my boyfriend thought it would be hilarious to have a friend lend me their dog for the day, only to snatch him back from my arms in a few hours. In the end, he was able to convince me that he had honestly and truly purchased a dog for me and was willing to suffer the consequences.
Now before you get all mushy and gush about what an amazingly romantic gesture that was, keep a few things in mind. First off, notice that the use of “then-boyfriend”. Second, this dog was no ordinary dog and it was not anything like the fluffy little golden retriever puppies that tumble out of a box with a bow wrapped around their neck. No, this dog was different. This dog had issues.
I have written many posts about Padfoot, the best description of his oddities and how the expat life has affected his fragile psyche are described in No Ladro en Español. Padfoot is a very special dog, one that costs me lots of money, causes frustration and complicates my life. I recently wrote about how the city of Buenos Aires is guilty of all the same things and yet, I am sticking with Buenos Aires.
And you know what? I am also sticking with Padfoot.
Who couldn’t love this face?
Yes, he costs me money, complicates my living situation, and frequently embarrasses me in public, but he and I are a team.
As I mentioned before, Padfoot was a gift from an ex-boyfriend. This was not just any boyfriend, but a guy I was with for 4 years. The man I thought I was going to marry. In the painful months after that breakup, Padfoot was like a living reminder of the love that once was. I would look at his big dumb eyes after he ran into a wall or tripped over his leash and think Once upon a time, someone loved me enough to buy this dog for me even though he was insanely allergic to it. My God, how could that love die? How can I look at this dog and not think of that boy?
I felt like a horrible mother that was taking a divorce out on her children. When he did something weird or wrong, I found myself scolding him, even trying to guilt trip him. Do you know what I have gone through for you? Don’t you realize what you represent?! LOST LOVE! HEARTBREAK! How could you be so ungrateful?! Please remember that my mind and heart were in a very fragile state during this time.
When it came time for me to move, I made the definitive decision to bring my dog with me. I would not allow this stupid boy kill my dream of moving abroad. Instead, I would take it one step further and fly his love-gift with me. People said I was crazy. My mom begged me to leave him with her. No, I said, this move is real and my weird little dog and I are in this together. This was my proof to my emotionally stunted dog with a fear of abandonment that I still loved him. Oh Padfoot, it´s okay that you bark at snow in the air and get yourself caught in the blinds if I forget to raise them so you can watch me leave the house – I will never leave you!
Best. Dog. Ever.
Now, don’t think I didn’t have my doubts and second thoughts. Spending 4 straight hours on the phone with LAN and Priceline trying to make a reservation for my dog was a very serious test of my love for this dog. After hours of calling each of them and them both insisting I needed to talk to the other company, I convinced a Priceline agent to 3-way call attack LAN. Oh yes, I called LAN with a Priceline agent lurking in the silence. I asked the LAN Agent “So, you are telling me if I call Priceline, they can make the reservation for me?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Interesting. Priceline, you still there?”
“Yes, Ms. Kirchner”
“Okay boys, I need my dog on that plane on June 22nd. Battle it out.”.
All of this plus the hours of traveling were incredibly difficult for me. The money, the time, the stress, and the embarrassment of Padfoot barking like a rabid animal at the sight of his reflection in the airport – I went through it all. However, there was one moment, one perfect moment that made me remember why I loved this little dog with so few brain cells.
Please mommy, don’t cry!
When I arrived I was sleep deprived, depressed, and lonely. My lack of sleep, my recent heartbreak and the overall hugeness of what I had just done flooded upon me the second I closed the door to my new apartment. I bawled. I bawled and bawled like a big giant baby. I threw myself onto my bed and wept. Padfoot quietly sidled up next to the bed at stared at me, sadly. He hesitated only a moment before jumping onto my bed, curling up next to my face and looking at me like a sad little kid that didn’t want their mommy to cry.
That, my friends, is love. This dog may not understand that cameras cannot hurt you, he may not have the mental capacity to understand what a reflection is, but he knows what love is and that is why I want him here. In a life of ever-changing friendships with so few constants, I will always have my main man, Padfoot.
