Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I love Ruby

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 30, 2015

Summer vacation plans are made, and in less than a month I will be traveling to the beach. Relaxing next to the ebb and flow of the Gulf will be tranquil, but before I get there I know I will experience a few stresses before the calm.

One of those stresses certainly will include making a reservation for the dog.

Yes, you heard me right, a reservation. Ruby is so much more than your typical canine. While living with us for more than 12 years, she has developed a princess mentality and requires top of the line accommodations.

You might think I am crazy to fork out dollars for a dog, but if I don’t, she gets super sick.

The first time we ever left her at the veterinarian’s office overnight for a trip, she apparently barked the whole time we were gone.

Poor little thing, she was so hoarse by the time we returned, the noise coming out of her mouth sounded more like the chirping sound a bird makes than a woof woof from a dog.

You see, Ruby is spoiled. Since she is the only four-legged animal around the house, the thought of sharing her space with others apparently does not sit well with her.

Her hospital bill from the ordeal did not sit well with me, and so it was decided that since she did not play well with others, the next time we left town she would get a private room.

Some of you may ask, ‘why not just get someone to come to the house?’ We tried that too.

She freaked out, got sick, and wound up having to go to the vet anyway, yet again creating a bill from a hospital stay.

As for taking my sweet little Jack Russell with us on the trip, the condominiums where we will be staying do not allow pets, and besides that, Ruby hates to travel.

The one time we decided to take her with us on a long distance trip, she made the car ride miserable. She would not sit still and continually moved from lap to lap to lap.

Maybe you think you are beginning to see my problem. You think you now know how this could cause me to stress.

But if the truth were told, dealing with a high maintenance dog is not the problem, it is the thought of leaving her behind that causes my unease.

She knows when we are about to leave on a trip. She sees our suitcases come down from the attic, and with a little bit of my own canine instinct, I can tell by the look in her eyes she is sad thereby causing me to feel sad, sometimes to the point of questioning whether the trip is worth it.

Ruby is not a perfect dog, and she has definitely caused me plenty of heartache (chewed up heirlooms, spots on the carpet, dog hair on the furniture), but I love her, and she loves me.

As usual, I know I will find a way to deal with my anxiousness around leaving my pet behind.

Possibly a mimosa on the balcony overlooking the water will help comfort my worry.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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