Since it’s Thursday, I thought I’d share a Throwback Thursday post. This week, it’s a stuffed dog I’ve had since I was about seven years old. His name is Ruffles, and for a 36-year-old stuffie he looks pretty good! My father was in the Air Force and was stationed in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, and he sent Ruffles to me along with a few other goodies (including a can of Coke with Arabic writing on it I was told not to drink). For years I didn’t even know what kind of dog Ruffles is, until last year when I used the Google Lens on my phone to try and find any other stuffed toys who look like him. That’s when I learned he’s a Shar Pei.

Of all the things from my childhood, Ruffles was and is my absolute favorite. He’s my reminder of a time in my life when I didn’t have to worry about anything. I didn’t have to stress over how bills were going to get paid or how my mother and I were going to eat each day. I didn’t have a job I hated to race to every morning. These were things that didn’t concern me back then. I guess what I’m saying is Ruffles represents a simpler time. After all these years, he’s still my pooch’em. 🙂

Anyway, I hope this little tidbit brightens your day. Keep writing, everyone.