June 03, 2016
The phone call we made late in the day piloted only speculation. “The vet was fully booked.” We were not convinced or confident, that we would, an appointment for the hygiene technique necessary to keep a doggy odor down, or if we had an appointment with the man himself. We were, or at least I was, Lucy not so much, delighted to find out we had one, upon arrival. The clues, that of licking her front paws in sheer frustration were correct. We were squeezed in, to see the young Scottish vet. Subsequent to watching a great deal on the large screen TV mounted on the wall, of all things animal. We followed a guinea pig with a bladder infection and were before Gibby a small black furry thing on four paws, accompanied by his four year old mistress.
“Go to school so you don’t have to clean toilets” the vets father said. He “now goes directly to the source,” unsnapping his rubber gloves, young Scots veterinary exclaimed as he walked out of the exam room to yet another animals to look subsequent to our appointment. We were done sitting on the floor laying on of hands, and looking at all her lumps, bumps and warts.
“Lucy has nothing to prove, she has beaten all odds.” thus saith the vet. We were instructed to get her flea and tick medicine, as she is still, 14 months after the dilation of my sprit, to say nothing of Lucy’s, in hot pursuit, these days of sunshine, in quest of dog quality of life, still going to the trails and walking, swimming. She is not much good in the heat, never has been, always succumbing with out a daily dip, to heat patches of prickly redness. Accordingly, the vet recommending that if it is a hot summer to shave her. I said I would just take her to swim. Steady as we go. She loves to swim and I think would be embarrassed to be shaved.
I described how we were recently at the beach. The old girl, that would be Lucy P, was raring to go, sticks and swimming, what more can one ask for. She glared at me as if I had a screw loose when I sat under the umbrellas to give her a break. So the policy is until further notice, if it is going to be boiling and blistering, immersion in water as needed in copious quantities. Then, we shall see.
She was age 12 as of April 29th, along with her adoption day June 24th fast approaching. I never thought I would see that day again, but it looks like we might just make it. Thus confidently ordered another month more of amino acids. She had a 6 week supply of dog food. My spaghetti loving golden, is steady as we go, “keep the stress down, meaning hot temperatures,” and we will keep doing what we are doing. I am standing right beside, behind, or in front of her while we walk, slowly surveying all she knows. Happy day oh happy day.
She is not beyond occasionally demanding bones, and treats. This morning on the way to computer kicking her toys out of the way and stumbling over the bones. Never being one to stick her head out the window, she rides in the car with air conditioning I might add. I don’t know how, but she recognizes when we are on a road less traveled by la tomato, sits up and watches. On the highways she rests, taking up the whole back seat. Steady as we go.
Thanks to vets, vets who are friends, vets who are cousins, cousins who are not vets, contacts who offered, dear and gentle readers that did not know her, or me, offering to pick up, deliver product, or make it, acquaintances who do know her and MOI, and offered prayers, and supplications on her and my behalf. Steady as we go. Countless motions of gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness. To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float. Alan Watts, Lucy P, and Moi Steady as we go.