Originally posted 24 August 2017.
On April 1 of 2016, we lost our beloved German Shepherd, Lady. Our veterinarian got her well enough to come home after a short illness. She died peacefully in front of my bathroom sink. Any time I would put on makeup, Lady would lie in front of my sink and I would go to Richard’s sink to avoiding leaning over her. I don’t think she wanted me to leave her.
Richard found her in the bathroom. He said when he saw her he had hoped this was an April Fool’s joke. It was not. We called our friend, Ruth. She came over and took Lady to our vet’s office for cremation.
I share this background because this left us with Baxter who we adopted to be a playmate for Lady. We also had Sarah, the Bassett Hound. Baxter and Sarah get along fine but we knew Baxter needed a playmate.
We went to several local adoptions and just could not find a playmate for Baxter. Ruth suggested that we look for a female dog slightly smaller than Baxter.
A Whippet / Pit Bull mix enters our life. She is the color of Bailey’s Irish Cream. We named her “Bailey.”
Richard calls her Diablo, the Devil Dog.
She has chewed most every rubber mat around the trees in our back yard, over $200 in Matelasse bedding products, the Trex decking on the back deck. I think she is finally over her attraction to my flippies as I can actually leave a pair outside the closet. She chewed an umbrella off a figurine my Daddy brought back from Occupied Japan. It was on the third shelf of curio cabinet that has been in my family for over 100 years.
You can figure out why Richard calls her Diablo.
I wrote Tuesday about methods I am incorporating into my daily life to define a new normal. Bailey’s antics in the morning use to drive me nuts. Now, I look for the joy this playful doggie brings.
She awakens each morning ready to embrace the world. First, she starts with Richard and wakes him up. He will let Bailey and Baxter outside. Sarah sleeps in a little longer. Once Bailey is back inside, she is looking for someone to play with. She stands and has this rear end wiggle signaling that she is ready for play. She will work to engage me but I am having coffee and on my I-Pad as is Richard. She takes her paw and slaps my hand demanding attention. Once finished with me, Bailey jumps on and off the bed for about 10 minutes nipping at Baxter’s neck and Sarah’s floppy ears. There are mornings I just watch Bailey engaging all those around her with an attitude of “get going and enjoy each other.” What joy she brings to my mornings.
Leaders … What antics from your followers go on in your organizations that bring joy?