This is Quinn. He is almost 10. |
I lost my precious Gideon about 6 weeks ago. We think it was some kind of blood cancer. He had pneumonia and a collapsed lung and even though he was treated for over a month with antibiotics and various combinations thereof, he was going downhill so fast. He was refusing to eat or drink and I could not get his meds down him any longer so I had to make that very tough decision to let him go. The house became so quiet and lonely and although Gideon was not a noisy dog, the silence when he was gone was deafening.
A week ago I went back to the shelter to look at senior dogs. Although I had thought about a more middle aged one, the seniors hold my heart, especially those who have been in the shelter for a while. Enter this black lab/pit bull (I think) mix who was black, white areas on his chest and feet and sprinkled with gray. This was his second trip to the shelter which meant at least two homes and he would have had his year's anniversary in June. H'mm? Black dog, senior, sheltered almost a year and a double return? Just my kind of dog.
I thought he would be easy but black labs don't slow down until they die. He is so full of energy, I get tired just watching him run. We walk every morning and I have had to purchase an Easy Walk harness because he is so curious and high energy, he would pull me off my feet if I wasn't careful. We all know where that might lead.
In typical lab fashion, he loves food; any food; any time of day or night; but he doesn't get in your face and beg. He sits back a respectable distance and begs. He doesn't like water. (I know, a Labrador that doesn't like water) He is not scared of thunder or loud noises but he doesn't like small critters, think rabbits and squirrels, or children, or other dogs. Luckily, I have none of those. He does love people and wags his tail all the time.
Now I have bragged on my new companion, this is the rest of the story: I have FINALLY found a surgeon to remove the Parotid tumor on my face. It has been almost 3 years since it was first diagnosed and thanks to Dr. Vosler, at First Physicians, I have a date for outpatient surgery. How surprised was I when I went for my initial appointment this week. The most professional medical office I have been in for several years. Not that I think I will change my GP or anything but this office popped with efficiency. I was speechless and left there, even facing surgery, with a smile on my face.
7 more weeks of school. Whew, this year has been really quick to pass. I still have my journalism conference in Orlando in a couple of weeks and a long weekend spent in the middle of nowhere with a friend to just sit on a front porch, watch the water and drink coffee in the morning. The only issue will be the drive up but I am hoping some of our visitors will be long gone back to where they are from. Fingers crossed.
I was also accepted to study George Washington and the formation of our government at Mt. Vernon for a week so I am super excited about that. Surgery will be over; I will be healed and headed to Arlington, VA to absorb more history to bring back to my classroom for my final year. Yep, I did decide to do one more year and maybe more. Let's see how I feel next year.
Until the next time, stay safe, hug your pets, and keep pushing forward.