Nelson: a wiener dog love story
- Magdalena Rodriguez
- Apr 26, 2020
- 5 min read
As many of you probably know by the plethora of photos I have posted of our new little man, Marc and I adopted a dachshund puppy named Nelson Frank Jr. This post is dedicated to him and his story of how he has completely changed our lives.
Rewind to December of 2017…Marc decided that he was going to stay in New York with me in lieu of the original plan of returning to South Africa to then do another Disney Contract. In order for us to have a real chance of being together, he decided it would be best for us to figure out how he could immigrate right then instead of prolonging it with another ship contract. He still has most of his belongings in South Africa. It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision but definitely a fast one. One phone call to cancel his return flight later, he was here for good. People thought we were crazy. Friends thought I was crazy. But wow everything felt so right. Little did we know that 2018 would be one of the hardest years for both of us.
This man, this amazing, funny, hardworking man moved across the world for me. Learning to accept this kind of unconditional, unselfish love was something I would struggle with. I had never experienced anything like that. I had never experienced a love without insecurity or doubt that it was there. I mean, things like that happen in fairytales…who was I to deserve someone who loved me enough to move so far away from everything he knew and loved like that?
Immigrating to any country is difficult but immigrating to the US is a journey. Albeit an impossible one. Regardless of doing it ‘legally’ or not, (which Americans love to act like is easy), it comes with so many mental, social, cultural, financial struggles that I would hate to wish upon anyone. (I could get political but I truly don’t want to waste my energy doing that right now). Thankfully, NYC is a city that is so forgiving and welcoming of people from all countries and walks of life. NYC can be one of the toughest places to live but I really am grateful we went through all of this here, in the city of immigrants, Ellis Island and truly a place of opportunity.
I won’t go through the boring, tedious process of telling you about the countless forms, documents, phone calls, checks, etc but I will say that Marc waited 8 months for his work permit. 8 months of sitting and waiting. NYC is an expensive place and when you don’t have income it’s even more expensive and scary. It was hard. I will say though, as I’m sitting here waiting to go to work and writing this while Marc is working his 9-5…it was nice having everyday together. We would always say, one day when we’re both working on opposite schedules, we’re going to look back on this time and wish it was now. That’s true to an extent. Thankfully we knew the open schedule, unemployed lifestyle was temporary so we were able to make the most of it…a lot of park days, a lot of movies, Game of Thrones binging, etc.
I was pretty lucky with the shows I was cast in during that time…one being a commuting contract and the other close enough I could return home on my day off. It was still hard. I felt this enormous sense of sadness which I know many actors face when they know they have to leave their loved ones for a contract. It was especially challenging knowing that my loved one was unable to work, in a foreign country without the one person he immigrated to be with.
Two days before I left for my summer contract, Marc received his work permit. After that, things started falling into place. Marc began his new job within weeks and was able to finally settle into our home. After a year of waiting, stress and sadness, things were finally beginning to look up. We had been approved for an apartment (which is a whole feat in itself in New York) and were able to start making plans for the future including a trip to South Africa finally as Marc hadn’t been able to leave the country while waiting for his green card.
I know this story was supposed to be about Nelson and I promise you it still is.
In December, Marc met the man who approved him to receive his green card in the mail. He was a lovely, kind immigration officer from Ghana named Nelson.
I had been making excuses as to why we shouldn’t get a dog for a long time. Living in NYC without a backyard, in a small apartment, with a busy schedule…all were reasons I felt like I couldn’t be a good dog mom. Then, in December I had a bit of a nervous breakdown. I was working three jobs to pay overpriced rent, my savings weren’t as high as I wanted them to be, I spent everyday working jobs that I for the most part completely dreaded going to and auditioned at least once a day only to be rejected or not feel passionate about the projects at all. I began to question, as I’m sure we all do or will at one point, what the hell I’m doing. I felt like I was unraveling just as I thought things for us seemed to be falling together perfectly. Marc was so supportive and helped me so much amidst this struggle.
I was approved for an emotional support animal after speaking with my doctor. We found a little dachshund puppy online that week and went out to meet him. It was love. On the train ride home while trying to pick a name, little Nelson came to our mind. Nelson after the lovely man who gave us the opportunity to be together in the United States. The man who, though he didn’t really know it, gave my person permission to stay with me. We welcomed little Nelson into our lives and I cannot even explain how happy life is.
We have had Nelson for almost a month and he is the light of my life. Life never gets easier…I haven’t stopped being rejected at auditions, even just this morning haha, working never gets easier, being on opposite schedules as Marc is never fun but having this little man to come home to when I’m feeling down, to cuddle with on the couch when life gets stressful, to share good news with when I’m happy is a feeling I hope everyone gets to experience. Nelson has shown me, just as Marc did in December of 2017 that unconditional, unselfish love exists and everyone is so so worthy of it. Both my boys have shown me that life means nothing if not to spend it with the people you love…the furry ones too.
xoxo
Mags
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