THANKFUL FRIDAY
Cindy Maddera
Cindy Maddera shared a post on Instagram: "Curb side vet care at Noah's Ark Veterinary in Brookside. Josephine's fine. Just needs shots." * Follow their account to see 6,282 posts.
I took Josephine in for her annual checkup on Wednesday. Our vet clinic is doing curb side vet care. You park, call them, and a technician comes out and gets your dog. Then you wait in your car while they examine your pet and administer the necessary shots. Do not be fooled by that look on Josephine’s face. Though she looks really unsure about what’s about to happen, right after I took this picture, Josephine turned her head and started kissing the tech right on her face mask. I sat in my car, playing Animal Crossing (because that’s what I do now), until the veterinarian called to discuss Josephine’s exam. The vet said that Josephine has lost a pound and half, but she still thinks we need to count more calories for Josephine. Last year the vet recommended having Josephine come in for an expensive teeth cleaning. This year Josephine’s teeth looked so nice that the vet said that the teeth cleaning thing wasn’t necessary. Then she wanted to know our secret to Josephine’s clean teeth. She has a cow bone she gnaws on all the time and occasionally she gets a Trader Joe’s denta bone.
The vet said Josephine was healthy and then she said “I have to say, it is such a joy to have Josephine in here. She was so happy to see all of us and so sweet.” I smiled and thanked her. Then the tech brought Josephine out to the car. As she was depositing Josephine into the passenger seat, the tech said to me “She is the sweetest, most loving dog.” I nodded my head in agreement and thanked her. I looked at Josephine and said “Everyone loves you!” Well…maybe not everyone, but Josephine sure is a little fur ball of love. There were mornings where I would give Josephine love and treats before putting her in her crate for the day and think about how nice it would be if I could take her to work with me or just stay home with her all day. Now, I can tell you that it is nice to stay home with her all day.
Since the stay at home order went into effect, Josephine has not been far from my side. If the weather’s nice, the two of us go for a walk sometime around 9:30 in the morning. She has started reminding with gentle paw taps when it’s time to go for that walk. The bed I have for in the bedroom that she rarely sleeps on has been moved to the floor in front of my desk so she has some place comfortable to lay when I am working. Sometimes I move my workspace to the bedroom where I set my computer on my cedar chest and I sit on a meditation pillow on the floor. Josephine follows me and during Zoom work meetings she can be seen laying on the bed right behind me or in my lap on the floor. She’s right there either on my mat or next to it while I do my yoga practice. When I lay down for final relaxation, she curls up between my feet and watches over me. She lays next to me on the couch and if she gets too hot, she lays on the floor under the couch, directly beneath me. Josephine is my shadow and I am a little worried about what it’s going to do to her when all of this ends. Right now I am doing my best to soak up this time I have with her because we all know that we don’t get to keep them in our lives forever.
I have a lot to be grateful for this week. I’ve focused on changing my attitude and being a kinder person and I’m ready to have the Cabbage back with us. Actually, I almost suggested we go get her on Tuesday. Supplies for re-building the retaining wall on the west side of the house all arrived early. There are two pallets of pavers, one of sand and a mound of gravel all organized at the top of our drive way. Our incentive to getting the project completed quickly is being able to get to the scooters inside the garage. Though, I think I can just barely squeeze my scooter out, which you all know that I will attempt to do so. Then, my friend Kristina contacted me about buying a print this week. I was able to respond in a some what professional manner with pricing information instead of “Uhhh…..” A print was ordered. Money exchanged digital hands. Then I started singing “Wow” by Beck because it’s like wow; it’s like right now.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.