Sam, our sweet Sam. Raced under the name Mohican Kingsley, a big, fast, strong and elegant boy – but one that I don’t know. And don’t want to. I much prefer getting to know our Sam.
He was given the rescue name of Elliott but like with Bea, I wanted something shorter for every day use – and I really didn’t see him as an Ellie! The day I met him, I saw him and thought Sam.
Sam is starting to enjoy being Sam I think. It’s not a thing he was comfortable with for a while – either the name or the life that came with the name. He now enjoys running to us when he hears “Sam, here” or “Sam, food” but that has taken a little while.
Like the many names for Bea, there as just as many for Sam. The most commonly used is probably Sam Sausage – because sometimes he is a silly Sam Sausage and gets a bit confused and upset by a thing that was definitely not a thing yesterday. A bit of reassurance that he is just being a Silly Sam Sausage and we take another step forward.
Samshine is a total joy. This is the goofy happy boy that greets me by jumping up at me with the waggiest of tails and a full on grin when he sees me, the one that takes a toy and throws it around, that plays tag with his sister in the garden and is embracing all of the fun of life. This Sam took a little while to appear and he doesn’t appear every day but has been worth every bit of effort to get him there and we look forward to Samshine days – they make everything seem that little bit brighter.
SamBoop was not a thing until fairly recently. Sam is quiet and unassuming, sadly until recently he was mostly quite happy when you didn’t notice or focus on him and he could take himself off to his safe space while the humans did their thing. Sam is now starting to actively seek out our company and want to be in the same places we are in. He announces his presence in the most beautifully Sam way – a quiet boop of whatever part of you he can most easily access with his nose. He won’t push or shove his way to getting your attention, he will just quietly announce he is there. He doesn’t need to make this a grand event, we are so pleased he is there we always notice and direct as much attention and affection towards him that he is comfortable with. The SamBoop is at his most joyful with a Samshine – the booping on your leg or backside as he is nudging you towards the garden to play or out for a walk!
HelpySam is the newest arrival to the many faces of Sam and it’s one thats coincided with his ability to use the stairs. Sam bonded with me more quickly than he did with my husband (who still sees all of the Sams, just slightly behind when I do) and he actively seeks out being with me during my working hours. He spiderSams his way up the stairs and peeps around the door, tail gently wagging, being so pleased to have found me. After a Sam level of fuss, he hops himself onto the bed within arms reach of me and settles in for the day, providing a soothing presence during trying and frustrating moments (try being annoyed for any extended period of time when you can turn around and have that beautiful boy lean into your arms) and occasionally sitting partially upright and posing on camera.
The more Sam settles, the more faces of Sam we get to see and we are so thankful for every one of them. The only one we have struggled with is Scared Sam – and that’s just down to us struggling to know how best to help him understand that we love him, wouldn’t hurt him and he would be safe, warm and loved with us. In the wise word of James Herriot – if only they could talk.
