His name is Jake.......

.....and he is blond, gentle, affectionate, wise and I am completely smitten.

You all know where this is going, right?

Over my consistent objections to the contrary for the past 5 years, I finally broke down this week-end and allowed an addition to our family.

His name is Jake, a one year old rescue yellow lab and he is 50 pounds of pure love and all of that love seems to be directed at ME.....of all people.

Saturday, I'm up at the outlet mall (see previous post) when my cell phone rings and it is BamBam on the phone.

"Mommy, we're up at PetSmart getting food for Sunny D and Polka and Mommy, there's this really sweet dog here. His name is Jake and he's a good dog. He doesn't bark and he doesn't jump and Daddy says I have to ask you. So can we Mom? Puhhhhhhhhhhhhlease!"

"Let me talk to your Daddy sweetie"

So to make a long story short, after giving my husband the what for on the phone and then listening to him describe Jake as another "Horace" I decided I had to go meet Jake Sunday after church.

As a word of explanation, Horace was my SIL's dog. The sweetest dog that ever walked the earth. If we had had the money, we would have cloned Horace. And I would have been a dog owner for the past 10 years.

So to hear the words "another Horace" pass my husband's lips, I had to go at least look...right? Of course, right, yes.

We arrive at the animal hospital where his "foster mommy" works and she brought him out to meet the family.

And I tell you, it was meant to be.

Jake walked right over to me, put his head on my lap, looked up at me with the kindest brown eyes and just waited, patiently mind you, for me to acknowledge him.

And I was smitten. Who wouldn't be smitten by a male who knows on which side his bread is buttered?

We spend 15 minutes with him. Me trying every trick in the book to get him to display hyper tendencies and naughta.

Jake's level of excitement peaks with an enthusiastic wagging of his tale.

I have yet to hear him bark.

We get him home, he explores our whole back yard. Makes NO attempt to nudge open or dig under the gates. Plays fetch with the boys, goes to a CORNER to do his duty

Then proceeds to spend the rest of the day following me around the house, laying at my feet and showering me with adoring looks of love.

Now I know what you are all are thinking and yes, his original owner was probably a woman and his foster parent definitely was.

But here's the kicker.

When his foster parent went to get him in the car for his one hour trip into the city, she called out, "Come Jake...I have a new family for you to meet!". Instead of balking at getting in the car as was his norm, he wagged his tail and jumped right into the crate.

It's fate I tell ya......and now I have one more handsome hunk in residence.

I'm a lucky girl!