My mom, age 92, is off on a trip to the Oregon coast with her sister/my aunt (88) and her niece and nephew/my cousins (in their 60s). They left yesterday morning. Considering Mom was so close to going to heaven just a few months ago, this seems a miracle to me.
So Poppet, my high maintenance Papillon, ran down the stairs this morning and came to a screeching halt. Mom’s bedroom door was open but she was not there. She was nowhere in the house. What was up? Normally, Poppet spends a lot of time in Mom’s lap while I’m working. But today Poppet stayed in my office, often looking at me with this “Why can’t I sit in your lap?” look in her eyes. She may only weigh 8 lbs, but 8 lbs on my legs while in a regular desk chair soon feels like a ton. Besides, it’s a little hard to type over her head. Thus, poor Poppet made do with her bed that sits center stage in my office.
Well, the day wasn’t all bad for my spoiled baby. The ADT Security technician came by to put a new battery in my remote control which means Poppet got to bark, jump, run around, and generally show off. Poppet knows no strangers, but she also makes sure everyone is loudly announced.
Yes, she is high maintenance, but I don’t know what I would do without her. I can’t help but believe that dogs (and other animals) will be part of eternity. They bring such joy.
Just to be fair, the other dogs in the photo with my airborn Poppet are Tiko and Misty. They are our elderly dogs, every bit as beloved, but they are outdoor pets and much lower maintenance.
-rlh-
