Max The Most Loved Pug

Not Max 

I like to post a good memory on here from time to time, for balance. 

From my parents house on Brackett Street, I used to walk to Canal School. I'd usually walk with a couple of neighborhood kids. We'd head down Pennell Street, cut through a couple of backyards near the Moreau's house, and on to East Valentine Street. That's where we would always stop to greet Max. 

Max was an adorable little pug that lived with his person family on the corner of Little Avenue and East Valentine Street. He was a lovable dog with one mission in life. To greet every kid walking to school. He would be outside as we walked by. Max would hop and jump on his leash and would come up to any and all comers with little butt wiggles and snorts to accept pets from us. 

As I remember it, one of his owners (a woman) would usually watch through the window as kids greeted Max. Funny how I can't place her face, but I do remember her smiles. 

After school, we would walk down Glennwood Avenue to Monroe Ave, turn onto Woods Road and take the path to cross Spring Street, and onto East Valentine to see Max waiting for us. He would repeat his enthusiasm and look forward to seeing each of us kids. 

We came and went in groups, and Max was on a tight timetable. He'd give you attention and wags (butt wiggles) and hop from kid to kid for pets and praise. But he would not linger. If Max spied another group of kids approaching, he would politely step past you and begin to announce his presence to the next group through a series of snorts and little barks. I believe he would also run his feet along the ground, throwing dirt, grass, or snow (depending on the season) as a way to garner attention from the next group. 

Max made going to school fun. I always looked forward to seeing this little fellow. I remember talking with his owners and having them tell us that they liked putting Max out to see the kids. As I've said previously, I cannot remember who the owners were, but I remember they were kind. 

Time passed, and we moved on to Junior High and different routs to school. Down Brackett Street to cut through the cemetery and on to Main Street, then the bus when the new (to us) Junior High School opened up on Bridge Street in the fall of 1975. We'd catch the bus at the corner of East Valentine and Brackett. 

Max faded from our lives, but I assume he greeted other Canal School kids long after we had moved on. He wasn't there anymore when we began walking to High School a couple of years later. I can't say for sure if he crossed the rainbow bridge, or his people moved, but Max was gone. 

Still, Max has been on my mind a lot lately. I think there are lessons in what Max taught so many of us. He made room in his day to show up and express and receive love from a multitude of people. 

We should all be so diligent with love and affection toward others. 

Maybe, we'd all be as blessed as Max. 

M :-)