I drove to Ft. Dodge, Iowa to meet Tickle on Valentine’s Day 2004. She was the perfect little lady even then.

Tickle went everywhere with me. the first winter she weiighed  about 3 pounds, and I tucked her into the front of my parka to keep her warm.She cam e to the university with me, and would run to greet her favorite students. Then she would wait patiently in my office untill class was over and she could play some more.

I named her “Tickle”, derived from the German word “teckel”for dachshund. She always pretended to be a little aloof. She would get close enough to visitors and then would scoot away before they could pet her. She enjoyed a good game of tag. She explored her yard tirelessly, checking beneath the birdbath and behind the day-lilies .

When I brought Weema- pup home, Tickle ignored her for the longest time. The day Tickle took Weema’s back legin her mouth and growled, Weemawas thrilled – a combination of joy and terror. After Tickle let go, Weema wiggled back over as if to say, “do it again!”