b'books, movies, music & more.In Praise of Pipby Rebecca MacPhersonIn the summer of 2021, when everyone was still reeling fromunderstandwhatweweresaying.Heknewkeywordslike COVID, and we were on the verge of signing papers for our firstnight-night, snack, and shower (which always sent him home,myhusband,Dwight,gotthegreatideaofgettingarunning in the opposite direction), and no sir a phrase we puppy. We decided to name him Pip Copperpot MacPherson,seemed to use the most. Esq., because of our mutual love for Charles Dickens, two ofChristmas is one of our favorite times of the year, but Pip our favorite Twilight Zone episodes, and a classic film everyonehad other ideas about the festivities. The Santa Claus toy we should watch before they die: Goonies. purchased for him ended up with a broken voice box the same day, and to add insult to injury, he peed on Santa to finish him off. ThetreeskirtwasntsafeeitherwithPipleavingusa specialpackageontheverydayIwasplanningtopack everything up. But oh, how he loved us deeply. Dwightisawriterwhoworksfromhome,sowehad decided that Pip would be a good office dog. He would be much more than that. Pip was his constant companion, shadow, andsoundingboard.Hehadtheusuallargepalettethat Frenchies have, and this caused quite a bit of respiratory distress for him. We wrestled with the idea of getting it fixed but hearing that he may not make it through the procedure stopped us in our tracks. We couldnt see putting him through a traumatic surgery with no guarantee that he would survive. He was fiercely protective of us, and the jingle of the Ring going off sent him into a barking frenzy with a sound like some-thing from a Bruce Lee movie, which would later earn him the nickname: Bruce Flea. We became the ubiquitous dog parents we said we would never become. We bought him personalized items, got him on Chewy, and even decided to forgo any dry dog food in favor of making his food from scratch. Pip ended up with a smoother coat and less toxic fartssomething French Bulldogs are famous for. Everywhere we took Pip, people would fawn all over himhis deeply wise beige eyes charming the ladies. Rebecca and Pip First Friday in downtown Lakeland became our favorite We were ahead of the curve as it would be the next yearhaunt,andwhenwesoldourbooksatthe WinterHaven that a dapper French Bulldog named Winston would win theFarmers Market, Pip always stole the show. My moms neighbor 2022 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. After that, it seemedpainted two portraits of him, friends sent more personalized like everyone and their mother had French Bulldogs, so we weregifts, and an overnight trip to Citrus County for a high school in good company.mini-reunion made him an honorary member. As any owner of a French Bulldog will tell you, they are aWe pictured him sitting with us on our porch way into the breed unto their own. Dwight would later admit that he reallygolden years of our life.This was not to be. should have done more research beforehand, but when this littleThree-and-a-halfyearsintohislife,heaspiratedand fellow with ears bigger than his body entered our lives, therecouldnt keep any food down. He had aspirated early in life, but was no turning back. He came with all the peccadillos thatwe were able to get him stabilized. This time was vastly different. Frenchies havethe selected hearing devices, side-eyed looks,I could see in his eyes that something was deeply wrong.and general overall attitude, but Pip was special. He looked at usWe rushed him to the Vetthinking they would stabilize forlengthyperiodsoftime,asifhewerereallytryingtohim, and he would be home in time for dinner.50 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'