Skip to main content

Welcoming Wally

I am currently at the library because my new furry beast makes writing at home nearly impossible! And that's not a complaint, truly! I would have it no other way.

I sat down this morning to journal and had to stop several times because Wally decided that he liked the sewing basket or the printer box or the cord to the computer or . . . Well, you get the picture. After several attempts at re-directing, I decided the best course of action would be to forgo any attempts at concentration and take the newest Piggins to the pet store to get some chew toys!

But first, I had to shower. As I tried to get ready for the shower, Wally pulled clothes out of the laundry hamper, pulled a pillow off the bed and tried to climb into the whirlpool tub (might have been a good place to 'keep' him but I know getting this monstrous pup OUT of the tub would have been a feat). So, I decided to put him in his crate while I showered.

Until this morning, I thought that Wally was a quiet dog. Not true - I could hear his cries over the shower, exhaust fan and two rooms away! He did not like being alone! It wasn't as bad last night - even with a thunderstorm. I suppose our not-so-little puppy knew it was uncommon to be crated while I was home! I took a very quick shower, dressed and rescued Wally - only to have him pull the rug from in front of the shower out to the bedroom, attempt to tug on the drapes and find a pair of shoes in the closet that must have been particularly tasty! My morning ministrations were cut short so that we could get to the pet store for appropriate puppy entertainment.

Chow Hound was not a welcoming place - and likely I won't return there. They weren't unfriendly - there just weren't any fawning employees. And when you see Wally (or any puppy for that matter) you're just drawn to fawn. He has that sad face (like a bloodhound) and the chubby body of a puppy who has a lot of skin to grow into!! Anyway, Wally quickly found three or four toys he just had to have and honestly if I could have lifted him, I would have put him in the shopping basket. It was worse than shopping with the kids when they were preschoolers and we wandered down the toy aisle! I feel fortunate that we escaped with a total of just under $100!!

It was a smart move - because the rest of the day were spent in relative bliss. For Wally and for me!! He was content to be wherever I was and he had several toys to keep him occupied. I believe Shadow might have been a better name - since he is always right behind me! We played in the yard, folded laundry (I folded he tried to steal whatever I was folding), did dishes and attempted to sweep the kitchen floor! We even took a nap - right on the living room floor snuggling together!

I fear the comparisons to Sandy - I understand it's likely natural to do that. And I've found myself talking to Sandy today - checking in with that most wonderful dog. I still miss her - but as I laid on the floor with Wally trying to snooze, I got a clear and peaceful message that Sandy welcomed Wally to her family. The tears that crept down my cheeks were the bittersweet tears of knowing we were moving on but never away.

And, like welcoming second or third children, they never replace the love we have for the first child - instead our hearts expand to love the new children. Or in this case, pet.

Comments

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

I put my pride aside and got my ass off the grass and into the wheelchair. {I spent a couple minutes deciding whether to put an exclamation mark after that declaration or to put the period after that statement. I think the period better suits my mood about getting said ass into the wheelchair!} On July 4, Saugatuck has a wonderfully unique parade that includes quirky participants like the artsy-fartsy campers at OxBow art colony and the LGBT members of a local foundation along with the more traditional participants like Girl Scouts, fire trucks, and local politicians. It had been a couple years since I had been to the parade, this year, though, my Mom and sister were in town and I wanted to take them. So we loaded up in the van, including Kerri's wheelchair and my own. Once we parked, John asked if I wanted to use my chair and I initially balked but then remembered that it can be a long, hot parade and it might be better to have a place to sit. So, I acquiesced and took the cha...

The day of the dead - or our recent sightseeing in DC

We spent three days in DC - but only one of those was sightseeing. The first we picked up Delaney at her journalism conference, taking her back to the hotel and letting her nap for a couple hours and then going to dinner at Red Lobster. She took the picture above and was mortified that her parents could be so embarrassing. In other words, we were doing our job as parents - embarrassing our child. that is after all in the parenting contract - "Thou shalt embarrass your offspring on all possible occasions." Our second day, included a tour of American University for Delaney. She loved it - more on that East Coast college tour in a later blog. The third day - we decided to spend our time visiting the Holocaust Museum and Arlington National Cemetery. Hence the title, 'the day of the dead'. We arrived at the museum shortly after they opened and got our scheduled time to visit the main exhibit. I put pride aside and used the wheelchair because I knew that it ...

Down 24

My life has been a lot like this roller coaster. Not just ups and downs, but several twists and turns. Sometimes I am whooping for joy, hands in the air ready for the what lies ahead while at other times I can see a loop or drop coming and the dread is palatable, the nausea is real. And also like a roller coaster is my weight. I've never been svelte but I have been within the BMI range. I have also been overweight and more recently the scale put me in the obese category. And that should have scared me into action but instead I just made excuses or rationalizations like "It's because I use a wheelchair to get around," or "I'm sure once X happens I'll lose that weight," or (my favorite) "It's just water weight/constipation". (Like all I needed was one really good poop and I'd be at my target weight! No plunger in the world could have worked! Like comedian Ron White says 'Just one really good dump from a new pant si...