Hello, everyone! Happy Luzzi here. For those of you just joining Patty (The Mom) on her columnist gig, I am the Beagle who lived with the Luzzis since 1996. In 2002, The Mom asked me to write her Christmas column so she didn’t have to send out cards to everyone she knows. I decided that I didn’t have anything better to do, so I obliged the old girl for these many years.

But this year the strangest thing happened. It was during the month when The Mom wears a lot of green and sings sad songs. I didn’t feel very good for a long time. You know that saying, “Sicker than a dog?” There’s a reason for it.

Every other week or so I couldn’t eat anything: no stockings, no foam earplugs from under the beds, and no morsels dropped on the floor. I was actually glad when they took me to see that cute doctor lady. I heard her talking softly to The Mom, and then The Mom started being really, really nice to me. She hugged me a lot, and her eyes were dripping.

When I got home from seeing the doc, I heard The Mom tell My Boy that I was really sick. He said, “I’ll make the appointment for Saturday, Mom.” Her eyes started dripping again and she couldn’t look at me.

I felt pretty punk, but by the end of the week I was a wee bit better. My Boy came to get me on Saturday morning. The Mom kissed me for the first time. Yuk! Human germs! We got in his van, and he rolled the window all the way down so that my ears would flap. Such joy!

We went to a place called Dick’s, and he bought me a my first whole cheeseburger! Such bliss. Next stop: Pagliacci Pizza. He actually gave me a whole piece of pizza, and I didn’t even have to beg. Such ecstasy! I knew something was going on, but I didn’t care.

We picked up The Dad, and went back to the doctor’s office. I gave My Boy Joe a big kiss, and he scratched me behind the ears. I’m sure he’s the best boy in the whole world. The cute doctor gave me a shot of something wonderful. I looked at My Boy, and he was hugging The Dad who was sobbing. And that’s all I remember of my Happy life.

After that I had some weird dreams. I went to a place that was full of cats. Purrgatory, someone said. I dreamed My Boy got a cat named Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Then I drifted to a beautiful place with other Beagles and their families. They told me just to be patient.

Meanwhile I know my family is getting together to celebrate Christmas. I wonder if they miss me as much as I miss them?

Yes, Happy, we miss you every day.

Patty Luzzi has lived on the Eastside for 32 years. Readers can contact her at pattyluzzi@yahoo.com.