I still remember the very first "real" pet that I ever had. Her name was Muppet, and she was a small, chocolate brown dog. Part poodle, part terrier, she had a coat that was sleek at the top, curly around her bottom and back legs, and totally brown from tip to tail.. My mother and I bought her at the Humane Shelter, choosing her because she appeared to be very quiet, unlike the other barking, jumping, wriggling puppies that were there. Little did we know that when she got home, uncaged and free to do as she pleased, she would become the queen of the high-jump, leaping to lick our noses when we came home.

Her original name was "Ginger", which we had to change. I didn't think my older sister would appreciate having a dog share her name, and my mother agreed. I dubbed her Muppet after seeing her dark eyes peering up from under a fringe of fluff, and the name stuck. Some of her favorite pastimes included laying on her back beside me in the recliner, where she would fall asleep and snore; chasing my hamster in his exercise ball, pushing him all the while with her nose; playing with her stuffed animals; and playing in the snow.

Her exploits in the snow are probably the most memorable. In Indiana, in 1978-79, there was a blizzard. Living out in the country, away from town, on a two-lane road, we felt the hit harder than those who lived in the city limits. Our newly-remodeled house had a porch that was about a foot high - and the snow kept falling to reach that height and higher. When the snow finally let up, we let Muppie out the door, and she ran for the yard - not knowing where the concrete (a mere 1/2" under her feet) ended, and the 12" of snow began. Suddenly, with a floomph, she disappeared as she plunged off the porch. We dashed out the door to rescue her, thinking initially that the ice-crust would have supported her tiny weight. But before we could reach the edge of the porch, she reappeared. It seemed as though a springboard had been mounted beneath all the snow, because suddenly there was a ball of brown fur popping up from the hole and flying through the air. A few feet across the yard, another floomph and she disappeared again. It took a moment for us to register what was happening, and as we did, she again popped up, springing across the snow, and disappearing once more. My mother, father, and I began to giggle as she bounced around the yard.

Eventually, she landed back on the porch, now looking as though she'd been rolled in sugar crystals. Her bright pink tongue was hanging out and she had a look on her face that was a combination of, "I bet you thought that was REALLY funny, didn'tcha?" and "That was GREAT!!" We let her in, where she did exactly as you'd expect - she shook herself from nose to tail, throwing snow all over the three of us as we came back inside. Then, with a look that almost appeared to be a laugh, she trotted off to the kitchen to lay on the register vent, her favorite winter spot.

I get to go out! Yes! I've been in this house for much too long, because of that funny stuff that's falling outside. I don't know what it is. I keep hearing the big things say something that kind of sounds like "no", but they don't say it mean, so I guess I haven't done anything wrong. Dance, dance, dance - I'm so excited! I think I'll jump up and lick the smaller of the big things on the nose to show her how happy I am. She didn't like it! Well, fine. Be like that!

The door is open - I'm out of here! Oh, sheesh, they didn't tell me it was cold! Now I've got stuff on my paws, and they're wet. Yuk! Oh, well. Hey - where did the grass go? I know it was here the last time I was outside. It seemed to be right over………..

Hey!! What the….? How did I end up in this little white room? Well, I can see the sky up there. Maybe that's the way out. If I just…hunker…down…here…I…can…*LEAP*….I'm out!

* POOF *

I'm in again. Ok - let's try the leap thing again. I'm out! I'm in again. Might as well pee here, I guess. Done. Alright, let's do this leap thing again. I'm out! I'm in again. This is not funny. I hear the big things making the happy noise. I'm glad someone is. I'll get them for this. Just wait. Here we go - leap….