A Hot Spot

Blogging Friends.... This post was supposed to be "published" yesterday. Huh. Thus according to my plan, anyway!! However. I had to overcome a hurdle of huge Writer's Block in the beginning, making this blank computer screen seem daunting!! But I love Writer's Block!! Then, as I was nearly finished typing, 11PM lurked on my clock. I needed some sleep!! Oh well. Isn't it nice--comforting, even--to understand that my plans are not mine after all.... But God's?

Mamas--whether to human children, or dog owners--never like it when something is ailing their babies. Never. It can be a cosmic health issue. Such as when Rose was mysteriously limping last Summer. Or something minuscule. Such as a couple years ago when Rose kept me awake by vomiting throughout the course of twain consecutive nights. Either way, our minds are not at peace as Mamas during such experiences!! The other night, I was in my bedroom, Rose nearby, Taylor Swift's new CD, "Red" playing. I had just spent several hours reading. I needed Attention Deficit Disorder to overtake my mind!! Track number one was playing--which has an awesome opening drumbeat by the way!!--and I was relaxed. For a minute. That was when I noticed it. This bright red patch on Rose's tail. My response? I panicked, of course!! At first. I was certain, during one fleeting second of irrational, heart-pounding, adrenaline-rush-provoked thoughts, that Rose had drawn blood. "Oh, my gosh!! Rose!! Oh, oh, my gosh!! Oh, my gosh!! Rose!!" was all I could say, while Taylor Swift still sang track one. It did not require long, however, for my initial panic to simmer down a bit. How? I've trained myself somewhere along life's journey, that after freaking out like the Drama Queen I am, to "keep calm and carry on". Why? Because, otherwise, all common sense is thrown out the window!! And I need common sense!! I depend on it during such situations!! I must be rational and mature if I'm going to solve this problem.... Any problem!! Still a bit panicked, I found my sister. I asked her to examine Rose's bright red patch, as though she were some licensed veterinarian. No blood.... It looks like Rose licked herself raw.... Then, as if by magic, my panic disappeared!! Now, I could think!! I pulled out a favorite canine health reference book of mine. Entitled "What's Wrong With My Dog?" by Jake Tedaldi. It is well-bookmarked!! I searched Rose's "symptom", which lead me to "My Dog Has A Hot Spot". I read its descriptions--wishing that this book had photographs--and every piece fit!! A hot spot. I then further Google-searched images of this ailment. That's it. We own this organic salve, which my sister has been applying to Rose's hot spot. Daily. I very well know of this ointment's ingredients, because I've rubbed it on my own cuts!! Yes, that is plural. Should Rose lick the salve off, she would mostly consume healthy herbs!! Yummy!! The following morning, her bright red hot spot had changed to pink. But, we were far from being finished treating it. Three days later, Rose's hot spot--scabbing, and still healing--returned to her natural skin color!! Yes!! This salve never ceases to amaze me!! Like it possesses magic healing powers, or something!! Which, of course, is silly!! It takes two for successfully partaking in the task of applying our salve onto Rose!! My sister rubs it in, while I hold Rose down, providing verbal praises. Then, afterward, she protests with high-pitched baying!! That's my girl!! Yesterday morning, Rose was lying peacefully on "our" bed. My sister held the salve, prepared to apply it. But Rose was lying on that side!! My sister tried to roll Rose over. It was for naught!! I intervened. No such luck!! What a stubborn girl.... Mamas--whether to human children, or dog owners--never like it when something is ailing their babies. Never. Being a Drama Queen, I admit that my little world felt like it was ending. Honestly!! I was all alone, sans any dog-loving friends within close proximity to me. I wanted Jolena, whose path has been severed from mine. I needed Stephanie, my friend and former neighbor. She is just an e-mail away.... Unless traveling with her partner. I needed Stephanie's experience and advice. I roll my eyes at this now!! This feeling of the world ending. It could be so much worse. At least Rose was not diagnosed with an aggressive cancer like our dear Blogging Friend, Remington!! No. We are doing alright. I'm capable of so much more than I give myself credit for!! So much more. And I am not alone!! Because. I have an amazing online community in Blogville!! Filled with caring, accepting dog lovers such as myself!! For this I am grateful....