M&M’s…..Memories and Mistakes

TRIBUTE TO

MARION “JAY” BRANDVIK …MY DAD !!

Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, I recall stories from friends about my dad running GREYHOUND dogs and hunting coyotes. Then Dad married mom, Wilma Jaroldine preferred “Jeri”…. AND then came myself and my brother, Thomas Gilbert.

Dad first brought me home an OLD ENGLISH BULLDOG, I named him “Pretty Please.” I remember Pretty Please went everywhere with me. He even sat beside me as I pulled up mom’s zinnias… and then beside me when my mom cried, “Oh, sis, you pulled up all my flowers!” Pretty Please and I just wanted to give mom some flowers. Oops!!!

Few years later, dad was welding at one of the local feedlots and came home with a big SAINT BERNARD, named Buck! Buck wasn’t one for most…for he wasn’t true to the so-called “Gentle Giant” description. His previous owner was taken back when Dad just walked up and petted Buck; due to the fact, people had been mean to Buck and Buck just didn’t like people! My dad always had a way with dogs! From that moment Buck and Dad were best of pals!

My brother and I learned to carry a half full 5 gallon bucket of water… then a full 5 gallon bucket of water! BECAUSE …dogs can’t turn water faucet on their selves to get a drink! Likewise, we often had races to see which of us could beat the other unloading 50# bags of dog food. AND, of course, we knew how to push a broom and how to work a shovel. In short…we scooped a LOT of poop!!!

JJ’S KENNELS…was our operating name. At our peak, we had 356 head of dogs and at any given time between 20 and 30 litters of pups on the ground at a time. We raised several breeds through my school grade years. Dad worked with a man named Quentiance, who worked for FAA, in establishing regulations for “Live Air Freight”; and would regularly make two trips a week to Amarillo, TX to ship pups all over the United States and the Virgin Islands.

After graduating and going off to college, Dad realized just how much work we were doing and made the decision to sell-out. The folks moved to Arkansas and again, Dad brought home some beagles. Thus starting all over again. He eventually purchased and bred BLOODHOUNDS; getting out when he could not find a male not related to our stock. Next, Dad found some IRISH WOLFHOUNDS, and was always on the lookout for a white Wolfhound, although he never found one. Before dad’s health started failing, he became interested in RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS.

We have always bred strictly pure-breeds. Holding true to the following practices:

1) NO line breeding,

2) NO females bred until age 2 yrs

3) NO more than 4 litters at most.

In June of 2013, I returned home. after taking early retirement from FEDEX Anchorage, AK, to get to know my parents again and to help tend to both my folks and the dogs!!! Dad asked me, “If I wanted to get back into the dogs?” I told him, “It looks like we are with the RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS.” Then I told him, “I’d really like to find some OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS.” I don’t know really if Dad just chose to ignore my comment or what, BUT the next month…. Dad comes home with not one, but two, ST. BERNARDS (Ms. Eleanor, the instigator, and Ms. Gerta, the lover.)

Three years pasted, and I finally found 3 female OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS. A friend of my dad’s had found a male; however, when they brought him home, neither the friend nor my dad could get him out of the trailer. I came down to the barn to see the dog and he came straight to me! I told dad’s friend, “I guess his is mine!” I named him, Oliver, and come to find out he didn’t like “men” and he didn’t have papers, but he was mine. Shortly afterwards, Oliver was bitten by a spider and became sterile, but he is STILL mine and RULES THE ROOST (now w/ cataracts)! He gets daily lovin’s along with all the others.

Again, here comes Dad, this time with Sir Buddy Blue Chip, M, OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG!!! WOOHOO!!!

Dad always was of good humor and nature, and enjoyed innocent jokes on several occasions. There came a day when I received a call from a friend, Jens, from Norway, who called asking if I could come pick him up at the Fayetteville, AR airport. I explained I would have to send my dad because I was working night operations at the bank and couldn’t on such short notice. I then asked Dad if he would go pick a friend of mine up at the airport. Then came the questions (obviously) … I asked Dad if he’d go to the airport and pick up a friend needing a ride and had just flown in all the way from Norway. Just, kind of caught Dad off guard and did he ever have questions! After answering all the questions as best I could, dad agreed. It wasn’t until he was on his way up there that Dad asked me if he spoke English and how would he know who he was… I laughed all night. Well everything went smooth, they found each other and for the next two weeks Jens ran around all over the state of Arkansas, and even enjoyed helping with chores. Seriously, I’m pretty sure Dad immensely enjoyed getting to know Jens, as much as, Jens enjoyed his visit, as our family is originally from Norway!

I’m SOOOO THANKFUL for my parents and the work ethic they gave me and even more THANKFUL THE LORD has given me a little Ark here on earth! The animals were a PRIORITY for Noah, as well as, for me! That’s why the name of the farm is….

ARKANSAS PRIORITIES

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I will continue with some of the mistakes, disappointments, and lessons learned since my dad’s passing as time permits.