PRINCESS GRACIE AND THE TERRIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD SPRING as told by Her Highness

I could make a long story short here, but I won't.  I wish for you to feel my pain understand what I've been going thru.

Several weeks ago it was a trip back to Dr. Fox for me with Otitis Media in the opposite ear as before.  I was one sick pup.  Mom and Dad are like...  what is causing this?  and Dr. Fox be like ...  how often are you bathing her?  And Dad and Mom are like...  could it be that she puts her head out the window when she is riding in the car?

BINGO!

The day my world changed.  

If I can't let my long furry ears flap in the wind as I'm smelling life passing by... there's no reason to live what's the sense in going anywhere?  Mom and Dad knew of my dilemma and so Mom got me a ear wrap AKA Happy Hoodie from something called Amazon.  Like in the rainforest?  I asked, but nah...  I don't think this torturous headpiece/ear protector came from the forest.  I think it was designed by a people who doesn't know dogs that well.  

I couldn't breath.  I was anxious and afraid.  I thought for sure this was it.  End of the line for me.  My last photo session would be that of a scared, miserable dying dog.

Luckily, it was a short trip just to try the thing out.  But by the time we made it home I was so anxious and afraid that I jumped out of the car twisting my knee! 

As I lay there on the road not able to move, Mom and Dad hovered over me looking very afraid.  Mom pulled the awful ear protector head band thingy from my head and I finally gained strength to limp off the road and into the house.

I would cry sometimes and Mom would cry too.  Next day it was back to see Dr. Fox.  He twisted me and turned me and pulled at my knee and then gave me a sharp pointy needle in the butt.  Twice.  

Maybe surgery, he said.  Or maybe I'd get better on my own. He gave me medicine that made me worse the first night.  Mom decided she'd just baby me and take me outside to enjoy nature and lift me when I needed lifted and see if time would heal.

I'm about 40% better, says Mom and Dad.  Dr. Fox says I'm pretty old for surgery and maybe we should wait-see.  Meanwhile Mom is lifting me into bed and onto the furniture and trying to make things as comfortable as possible. Dad has started doing a lot of the lifting because of Mom's back.  He's talking of taking me to camp again!  

Bunny Friend is taunting me outside.  Laughing at me and saying 'nah nah nah nah nah ya can't catch me'.  It's okay.  I pay him back by eating his poop later.

Mom hurt her back probably lifting me.  But she's getting a little better.  Dad helps a lot and he gives me belly and back rub therapy.

It's been a long spring.  And speaking of spring - Dr. Fox says to let me do what I feel like doing. a-hemmmm  ...  walking, playing, living life ...  

 So I'm getting a little spring to my step again.  I think Bunny Friend is rubbing off, cause I do more hopping than running.  

Mom said, this dog needs to go for her grooming appointment!  We've had to cancel too many times.  She stinks.  

Dr. Fox gave us the green light and so... yesterday was spa day.

 I did a big mushy poop in the yard after I came home from spa day at the Strawberry Dog, and then I sat in it yea, the MMP (Mushy Mound of Poop).  What's that all over your leg? Mom asks when I walk into the house...  and then she freaks out and chases me into the living room waving wet, soapy paper towels in the air.  After a good leg scrub she calmed down a bit.

Wish this picture had a scratch and sniff capability cause I smell wonderful..  Except for the right leg.  It'll pass.  But it lost something along the way...

MOMENTS and MEMORIES

As a child, every other Sunday, I accompanied my mom and pappy to a place called Sylvan Retreat. First we would stop at The 7-Day Market picking up a hoagie and an ice cold bottle of Tab for Mom and a Pepsi and pint of Sealtest chocolate ice cream for my mom's mother. Mom called her Mother. I called her my mom's mom. I was always excited to see Pappy and Mom's mom on those bi-weekly visits. First Dad would go to Midlothian to pick up Pappy and bring him to our house. Mom dreaded those Sundays when she'd feel obligated to drive to Cumberland to visit with her Mom and I remember her complaining a lot on that day. But she was faithful in her visits and I'm sure that meant a lot to my grandma AKA Mom's mom, even tho 'Gram' didn't quite understand what was going on around her.
We would sit in the car and visit. Mom and Pappy in the front seat and Mom's mom and me in the back. Excited, I could not wait to open the special gift that Mom's mom had for me, a bobby-pin and a piece of gum or maybe a simple piece of colored paper, folded snuggly inside a thick beige stocking and tied tightly with a piece of string.

Feelings of sadness yet intrigue oozed from my every pore as I watched the delicate, frail, gray haired woman spooning the creamy melting chocolate from the cardboard container and rambling on about nothing. She was a simple soul, carrying a lifetime of sorrow within her wrinkled exterior.

I'm not sure if her belly would be full or if she just liked saving the last of the ice cream for me, but to my delight, I would always be given her leftovers. Then Mom, Pappy and her would chat about nothing for a while and I would ask Mom if I could go for a walk.

My walk took me just down over the hill from our parked car and to a field where beyond the fence lived a herd of cows I referred to then as my friends. My imagination allowed for deep conversation with these black and white cows and I could tell by those trusting eyes staring back at me that these cows got me! "I'll be back in 2 weeks," I would say upon my departure... and they understood.

Our drive home was one of relief for Mom I'm sure, for she had put in her time and had done what was right putting aside her weariness of working full time and taking care of 7 kids.
Sacrifice is a showing of true love. It's easy to do something when you want to do it. But it can seem an imposition when it is something that pierces your daily routine and takes you from your comfort zone of peace.

Mom's sacrifice on those visits to her mentally ill mother back then taught me a lot. There was so much giving! Pappy would come armed with little black licorice sugar coated babies to hand out to us kids. Mom would give her mom ice cream and pepsi and even more importantly - her time! Mom's mom would give me a gift and then she'd save the last of her ice cream for me. Those cows gave me a friend and a listening ear. And now that I am an adult, my hope is that those role models from yesterday have impacted me to where I too, can be a role model for those around me.

Never underestimate the power of a moment.

For in that moment, you just may see God working in a life, or two or three.

MOTHERS DAY POST

I am moving over some posts from another blog that I started... so this might seem overkill for a while with the posts, but I am trying to simplify things for myself.  Ha!  Fat chance, right?

MOM

You have been gone for over twenty years now.  I still miss getting you a card on this special day.  I miss talking to you on the phone, taking you to dinner, and just hanging out with you.  You were such fun to be around and you had a good heart.  I will always remember you with love.