The Ballad of Bingie ja Ryanni

The following is the story of a boy and his dog, as played by his uncle’s dog Bingo. Its been a long time since we could hang out with that orange fur ball. Bingo has been gone almost 20 years now and still the memories remain. Bingo was the greatest dog any Suomilainen poika could have the pleasure of being friends with. Maybe he wasn’t technically my dog, but I sure did hang out with him a lot and still miss the good times we had together.

Old McDonald had a dog and Bingo was his name-o. Yes that children’s song may or may not have been the inspiration for Bingo’s name, but I really don’t know. You see Bingo wasn’t always a part of my family. He started his life in less than ideal conditions. As a puppy he was taken home by a terrible family who had no respect or concern for the well-being of this excitable chap. Being unprepared for the responsibility of a dog this family was easily annoyed by the untrained pups wild antics. They treated him very poorly and even once sprayed him with the hose in the middle of winter. The old saying that there are no bad dogs only bad owners could not be anymore true than in the story of Bingo. His original owners were so fed up with Bingo and his impish ways that they were ready to put him to sleep. Fortunately my uncle would step in to save the day and give this rusty coloured mutt the love he needed.

My uncle may have saved Bingo from certain doom, but I think my mumu has to be given credit for making him the well-behaved dog we all know and love. I just can’t imagine my grandmother putting up with any garbage from this dog. Bingo always knew his place in mumu’s home. He never went places he didn’t belong and listened to every command without question. I may have not learned how to speak Finn, but I definitely did know ulos or out. All mumu had to say was ulos and he was out, no questioned asked. He knew who was in charge and he respected her. It could also be that he just loved getting out.

My grandparents lived outside of the city in a very little developed area and there was nothing but stretches of land for him to run on and get into trouble. Bingo loved to fight and loved the ladies and that skamp would go running through the fields meeting up with all sorts of characters along the way. As is the case with any free-range dog he had his run-ins with skunks and other dogs and is likely to have children out there, but despite all this he was still probably the most behaved dog I have ever known.

So this is just an introduction to Bingo or as I remember him, Bingie (Bing-guy, guy as in lafleur). Mumu and her finiss accent led to this variation and I like it. So that’s Bingie for you. He has had my back on a number of occasions and there is not much more I can do to repay him but share his story. I would like to start by telling you the story of ‘Bingie ja Ryanni and the Ferocious Karhu.’ Enjoy.

'Bingie ja Ryanni and the Ferocious Karhu’ will be coming soon, but there may be a little detour to follow the adventures of me and mon ami Emilie. My first Ottawa visitor. We sure had fun, or did we? Stick around to find out.

Later