Meet my dog, Elbow
"Why is her name Elbow?" is a believably common question
This was the day we adopted Elbow.
Elbow is my 7-year-old brindly pit mix who was rescued on 1/23/21 (a palindromic Gotcha Day!). She’s incredibly special to me and Cindy. A little bit about her: she’s shy, she has a funky right knee, she likes to hold toys (not play), she likes to sleep (a lot), and she’ll thwack herself with her own tail if you scratch her booty enough. Her favorite toy is any variety of stuffed animal with those plastic beads in the paws and she loves to rip those beads out. It’s always a mess.
I’ll do my best though to stay away from the usual dog owner banter, like what morning regiment I have for her or what specific brand and flavor of dog food I feed her. I get it, some folks might not want to hear any of that. I’m going to avoid that and just recount some of my favorite memories with Elbow.
Gotcha Day
Still in the first years of the pandemic, Cindy and I, on a strange impulse, decided to adopt a dog, an idea we had both been toying with for a while since both of us had always dreamed of having one. We began applying in November, but with holidays and I guess a busy coordinator, we weren’t approved until January. By then, the dog we were interested in was adopted, but we went to see another potential future dog anyway.
Upon visiting, we found out that the poor pup had heartworms. Not yet confident as future first-time owners, we decided not to risk it and asked if they had any others we could see. They let us walk Tiffanie, a puppy who wouldn’t stop hopping onto us, and then Minnie, who was timid, a bit anxious, and maybe a little unsure of where she was. I remember Minnie was intimidated by anything larger than her, quick to flinch and quicker to walk away from whatever daunting object we passed by. Can you guess who we adopted?
Why Elbow?
Years before we even thought about actually adopting a dog, we knew we wanted to name our first pup Elbow. We weren’t even thinking about a specific breed or characteristic that we’d look for to match it to what Elbow may have been like. We just liked how the name sounded, its two gentle syllables ringing in our heads. There was no logical reason behind the name, other than it was simply a fun name to say.
Whenever someone asks us for her name, their reaction is an instant vibe check for us. Mostly, we get a chuckle and an “okay.” Some people cock their brow and immediately ask, “Why is her name Elbow?” attempting to search for any smidgen of the name’s significance. The people who understand that her name is just fun, as is, light up with a childlike joy as if they had just discovered it.
That’s the benefit of owning dogs anyway, sharing the joy they bring you with other people. Elbow likes everyone and, after the first meeting, she remembers you and will be happy anytime to see you again. And who could forget such an unconventional name like Elbow? When you meet her, you can instantly understand that she is Elbow, like it was meant for her. Her demeanor, her behavior, all of it, just makes sense with the name we chose for her years and years ago. And we find that pretty special.
Sweet Moments
Cindy and I used to go on occasional weekend strolls to Petite Rouge, a neighborhood coffee shop fifteen minutes from our old apartment. We’d take Elbow with us on this longer morning walk as a treat for her. Once we get to Petite Rouge, we get our drinks and Elbow always gets a treat from the barista, who learned Elbow’s name (again, it’s hard to forget) and only recognized us when we brought her in too. It’s a strange association to make with people by way of their dogs, but having Elbow accompany us makes the visit sweeter for everyone.
Back when I brought Elbow to visit my mom for the first time, I was surprised by how quickly my mom got sweet on her. We had never been around dogs growing up and I remember asking for one. My parents said they were too stinky, too messy, and hard to care for. My mom had told me she used to have a favorite dog in Vietnam, but it wasn’t hers, it was sorta the friendly neighborhood dog. So, when I brought Elbow home, my mom was delighted to have her around. I find it adorable when my mom talks to Elbow, telling her to eat her food or that she’s a spoiled dog, then giving her a soft pat or two on the head. It took a little bit of warming up, but Elbow’s timid nature eased my mom enough that, despite the few accidents that have happened in the house, she finds joy in having Elbow around too.
Please like and comment and let me know if you share any of these thoughts or want to discuss these topics more!
This week’s jams (paid subscribers only)
I’ve been really vibing with this Instagram account, especially if you love cooking and hip-hop.
I love watching cooking videos, just for inspiration or the beauty of the process. Chuck Cruz (IG: @chuckycruz) is a professional chef who makes top-tier meals at home with the best taste in hip-hop that I’ve started diving into. Check out this playlist he made and turn it on next time you’re whipping something up in the kitchen. You can also check out his own Substack for recipes here >