The girls christened the puppy ‘Mac’ and he became part of a rambling Tupelo area farm household that has been home to horses, dwarf rabbits, fish, birds, hermit crabs and baby goats. Mac quickly claimed a spot as ‘one of the girls’, enjoying spend the nights, tea parties and playing school. The sisters failed at repeated attempts to teach Mac his ABCs. Despite scientific claims that dogs do not distinguish between most colors (there are folks that study these things), Mac apparently has an affinity for red. As a puppy, he was very fond of a particular red nightgown belonging to one of the girls. He would latch on to the bottom of the skirt to be happily dragged around hanging from the red ruffles. One of his favorite toys was a big plastic foot with red polish on the toes – which Mac chewed off, red toe by red toe.
Despite a few health issues, Mac loves a good road trip. Never meeting a stranger, he traveled to live with one Equestrian daughter temporarily where he became a favorite at the barn, sitting in laps and basking in all the attention.
Back in Oxford, the youthful thirteen-year-old Mac is still fond of playing with his toys; a stuffed hedgehog is now his current companion. He remains a traveling man and an in-demand house-guest, although most of his ‘trips’ these days are occasional rides with mom Stephanie to pick up dinner.