Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A "Love Note"

Blogging Friends.... I have caught some head cold germ. Sigh.... Who catches these illnesses this time of year?! I love head colds, even though they cause me to feel woozy. As if I could perform a face plant, just by bending over. And head colds literally feel like there is some pounding drum within my scull. Some pounding drum. Yep. my heart and my brain are one together right now, and they're working hard against me!! But, still, I love head colds!! Why? As a girl who has suffered from asthma, I would take feeling like "the walking dead" over some nasty chest cold!! I'd much rather deal with that, over coughing and gasping for oxygen!!


"Staycations". Anybody, who lacks money, embarks on them. From camping in deep, pine-scented woods, to driving toward your beach for one day. Anybody, who does not lack an adventurous personality, needs a "staycation". For relaxation. Time away. A sense of recuperation. "Staycation". I love that made-up "word"!! Seriously. Which is rather uncharacteristic of me, liking some expression that's most likely not even in the dictionary!! But, what can I say? As a homebody who relishes nothing more than being at Rose's side, that "word" produces pleasure and excitement within my heart!! Every time. It never fails!! During a "staycation", in the end of our day, I can return to my little girl!! But.... When you cannot bring your canine along, even on "staycation", what is a loving, responsible owner to do? Board her? There are respectable kennels all throughout our area. Hire a house-sitter? People are paid for being responsible, trust-worthy caretakers of your dog. But really. How does a  loving, responsible owner place their dog, their baby, in somebody else's care, when you know that you're the best person for her? You know that you're the best person for her.... Some boarding kennel will, literally, cause Rose to become insane, even though she is already crazy!! I do not want that. I do not need that. See, Rose adamantly enjoys her freedom, and may transform into some frantic, abandoned, destructive beast under those circumstances!! I shudder at the thought. Shudder. Hiring some complete stranger to enter and stay in our house, under our roof, creates feelings of unease for everybody around here!! But that is just us. So, instead, on our Wednesday beach trip, we took a different route!! One that best suited our needs concerning Rose. We "hired" my Grammy and Grampa to watch her!! Twain people who I know personally!! They watched me evolve from a little girl into an adult!! And they are responsible!! Score!! I typed out some detailed instructions, and strongly told them: "You can't lose her. Don't lose Rose!!" For, being part Beagle, she will dart after something.... Anything. Cat, squirrel, some ghost.... In swift velocity!! Shudder!! Nonetheless, halfway there, I sat in our minivan, twiddling my thumbs. Worrying, worrying, worrying!! I mentally ran over my brief instructions for Grammy and Grampa. I wondered if Rose will be alright. I prayed for her. Hoped with all my heart that she will be fine sans me. On our drive back home, I pulled out a souvenir. This simple postcard. I found my red pen. I was going to write Rose a "love note" on that postcard!! Because we were driving, my handwriting was a bit sloppy in some areas where the road had bumps. There is also one misspelling, plus a few errors, as writing in pen is never forgivng!! Never.

Here it is:
Rose Elizabeth----
My prayer for you is engraved on an angel dog tag. Its words are a sweet sentiment. They express: "Watch over my best friend while we are apart." It is proudly being worn on a delicate chain around my neck. As our prayer. My wish to you. I like that. Every time my fingers touched this unique necklace, I thought about you, longed for you, wished you were by my side. I bought a bakery-made orange-colored yogart-covered treat and wrote your name in the sand.... Love Mama
June 13th 2012

Upon my return, Rose was hyperactive and excitable as to be expected. My mutt's mighty vocal chords let out that "happy sound" of hers, the "Beagle" bay. I smiled. I was excited to see her, as well!! Ecstatic, really!! I stepped foot into Grammy and Grampa's beautiful, wooden stained-glass front door. I immediately found Rose's red leash. I linked it to her collar. Then, we stepped outside!! I was planning a spur-of-the-moment walk around Grammy and Grampa's small cul-de-sac. To help Rose unwind. She had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at the moment!! However, I decided to actually leave Grammy and Grampa's cul-de-sac. Go on an adventure!! For reasons beyond my comprehension, I thought that we could simply walk around the block, like in our old city neighborhood. Wrong!! Rose and I turned the corner, and found ourselves in an entirely new cul-de-sac!! Oops. Oh well, we were on an adventure together!! So I kept walking, Rose's wet black nostrils sniffing everything. She left several "pee-mails", too, of course!! Then, we simply turned around!! I knew how to find our way back!! I am a "landmark person", and one of my grandparents' neighbors has this colossal, silver-colored anchor for their mailbox!! It is unmistakable!! Once I saw the anchor, I just knew that we had returned!! All was well now. Rose had settled down considerably. And we were together again....             

          




16 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Lovely prayer. We don't mind going camping at the kennel. We get great service and are allowed to bark as much as we want.

Sorry you aren't feeling well.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & roxy

Finn said...

HOpe that you are feeling better real soon!

3 doxies said...

Gracious I hopes you feels betters, no matters what kind of sickness, it's just awfulls!
Glad you has somebuddy to watch Rose cuz we has to stay at da kennel. But it ain't bad cuz they loves us and lets us run around da clinic when nobuddy is around....hehehe...dat part is fun.
Dat was such a beautiful letter to Rose. My mum always says it's just amazin' how much we dogs can be missed even furs a short time. It just ain't da same withouts us.

Puddles

Sketching with Dogs said...

It is so difficult finding someone you trust with your dog. Luckily my sons have ours when we go away.
That prayer is so sweet.
You have a better sense of direction than me, I get lost everywhere!
Lynne x

Mary Lou said...

Daisy, Bella & roxy....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Yeah.... Boarding kennels are fine solutions for some dogs, but not everyone!! ;)
I am actually feeling better and more energized today!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Finn....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I am actually feeling better and more energized today!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Puddles....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I am actually feeling better and more energized today!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;-]
Yeah.... Boarding kennels are fine solutions for some dogs, but not everyone!! ;)
"It's just amazin' how much we dogs can be missed even furs a short time. It just ain't da same withouts us." Agreed!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Lynne....
Thank-you for the comment!!
"It is so difficult finding someone you trust with your dog." I know, right? Like I expressed in this Blog post, we feel as though we're the best people for them!! ;)
I am glad that your sons watch the dogs while you travel. What a blessing!! ;op

Lorenza said...

The same happens to my mom when she have to leave me at home!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Mary Lou said...

Lorenza....
Yeah.... I worry about Rose when we leave for a mere few hours!! I'm pathetic.... ;-}
I am actually feeling better and more energized today!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;op

Alison said...

I hope you feel better soon. This seems to be going around lately.

Mary Lou said...

Alison....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Yeah.... It is day-to-day. Moment-by-moment. Yesterday, I felt better and more energized. Now? I just spend the morning playing live superheroes with my brother and cousin--I was Iron Man, of course--so, currently, I'm exhausted!! But it is an invigorating feeling!! Oh.... And I am now questioning my sanity.... A bit... ;-}
We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;op

Unknown said...

Oh dear, hope you're feeling better soon!

I know it's so difficult to get someone we trust to take care of our pets when we have to leave them for a couple of days. I'm so blessed to have my sister who is a dog lover and willing to take care of Eva and Mika whenever we need her.

Suka said...

Sorry you have had a head cold and hope you feel better very soon! But I understand how that would be much better than an asthma attack. Scary!

Lovely poem to your beautiful Rosie! It is hard to leave our pets. I also have a parrot so I have to worry about both bird and dog care when I go away. In the past I have boarded my dogs at the Vet. That seemed to work out fine - it was not too expensive and the dogs knew the Vet and workers, who took good care of them. The only downside is the dogs are kenneled, but at least I had peace of mind for those few days. Dogs are very resilient, so while we are on our vacations, or staycations, worrying, they are doing fine, even if their accommodations are not that great. :->

Still, I agree with you, to have a family member(s) or very close friend watch your pet is the ideal. They know you, the pet knows them, and they know how you would want your pet to be treated. So I am very happy your grandparents were able to watch Rosie for you and I am glad Rosie did so well with them.

K and Suka

Mary Lou said...

Priscilla....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I am feeling better!! Thank-you!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;)
Oh yes, having a trusted family member to watch your dogs is a blessing, huh? ;op

Mary Lou said...

K and Suka....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Yeah.... Asthma attacks can be scary, but fortunately, mine are not severe, nor frequent!! So I just deal with them when they come!! ;)
I am feeling better!! Thank-you!! We have decided that this time of year, it is actually allergies!! Cool....? I can deal with allergies!! ;->
Yeah.... Vet kennels are fine solutions for some dogs. But not everyone!! Rose cannot stand her vet!! ;-]
"Dogs are very resilient, so while we are on our vacations, or staycations, worrying, they are doing fine, even if their accommodations are not that great." True.... But we do need to consider their needs, though.... ;)
Grammy and Grampa were an excellent choice for Rose. She knows them. They do respect my rules. Both are retired. And, they are responsible!! ;op