Riggs at Last

Some of us like to go to happy hour. Me, I can get all the happy I need right at home with Riggs, our grand dog. Just walking Riggs in the rain, I had an epiphany. Family and friends have been telling me for a long while that I need to get a dog for a pet. Before Riggs came to visit this time, I had a long list of things I wanted to do. Walk more-check. Write more-check. Visit Audrey more-check. Sing more-check. Learn to speak more fluent "lab"-check. (Riggs is a chocolate lab). When I have a dog in my life I really don't need a list. It will just come naturally.  Recently my son and daughter in law gave up their direct tv. They said this opened the door to getting more things done. I know that really this opened the door to spend more time with Riggs. The rest will come...Thank you wise ones.

Hey there Riggs

Riggs part two:  Having a grand dog is like having my first dog all over again but even better.  This time, I am not at all eleven years old. This time I am not at all the master of a Shetland Sheepdog. This time I am all in the company of a lab, a choco lab, that is. My time spent with all the other dogs in my life was shared with all the other stuff like growing up. Now, older and sometimes wiser, still not grown up,  (who ever finishes growing up anyway?),  I see Riggs as I've never seen another dog. When I am with Riggs I am with Riggs and I never knew my heart had room for so much love for a puppy.

I am learning a lot these days. Not only has my heart gotten bigger, but how was I to know that Riggs is in the dictionary?  I just looked up the definition of a puppy: Riggs. Silly me, I thought is was the name of some college team's soccer field.  She is all puppy, a very smart one at that. She loves to please but thankfully she has a mind of her own.  Last night, I heard something about a smart knot. Don't know much about that yet. Now where is that dictionary? Oh well. She is not a follower. O.K except when there's food involved. She is couriggsous.  She may start out hesitant when face to face with a new situation, but then labba dabba doo, the courage pops out of her body. The next refrain is:  watch out world here she comes. She lives in the moment. Every cell in her body is bursting with love.  When she is told, "no". She may protest for a minute or two and then back to right now.  She is growing into a very lovable lab. Although she has always been a loveable lab.

Richo

I used to think that I was a dog person. I grew up with dogs not cats. I was in high school when I found out that I was allergic to cats. That gives you an idea of how often I was in the feline world. I was babysitting for a family in our neighborhood and an asthma attack.  I called my mom and she came and took over the babysitting while I recuperated at home never to babysit for those neighbors again. Then I met my husband who grew up with cats. His family had cats and I got my introduction into the feline world. Last spring, a neighborhood cat followed me home just like a puppy dog. He set up residence and has never looked back. A tuxedo with a John Wayne attitude, Richo is a lot like a dog as he behaves and misbehaves throughout the day. He comes when called, sits and begs for a treat and he stares at the refrigerator whenever it is opened holding up his paw. Thankfully, he is in touch with his feline self so I am learning more about the world of cats. So, I guess I am not really a dog or cat person but a person who loves whatever animal I am privileged  to be in the company of. 

Metaphor

ok back to the metaphor thing. I heard recently that gardening is a metaphor for life.  As I spent the week-end with Riggs I could not help but think that spending time with a lab puppy is a metaphor for life, too. As we went walking, we came across a series of puddles. Riggs noticed before I did. She started walking in the water and was so pleased with how the water splashed up all around her that she walked with more vim and vigor to create even more enthusiastic splashes. Then the dance began. She danced and danced in the puddle. Sure she would have loved it if it had been deeper. However, she "loved it the way it was". Acceptance.  And she danced and danced and danced. Then she went on the retrieve pecans only to have them taken away. I didn't know what they were. Just found out they are pecans. Thanks Riggs. I didn't know that beautiful tree out my den window is a pecan tree. Gift. When you get older, I'll let you eat a pecan (if  it's ok with your parents). For now, I'll gaze at the beautiful tree and know it is a home for pecans. I miss you.

Grand

Today I am much too busy to become sixty. I am becoming a "grand".   Dog, that is. Our "grand puppy" Riggs is spending the day with us. She got up right on time. One minute early in fact. I was ready. I must admit it was because she is on a schedule. I am a firm believer in the schedule idea with a puppy now. First things first. We went on our walk. As my son Daniel says, "Mom, you have to walk her the minute you take her out of her crate."  "Right Callie?" Note: I am a believer in the crating idea now, too. I did. Callie is my daughter-by-Danny. Danny is my son.

As we begin our walk, Riggs is very RELIEVED. Holding it all night is not easy for a puppy.  As we started our walk, we met a neighbor with her adult yellow lab. Riggs looked at the lab and for a fleeeting moment was scared. As the fleeting moment passed, she was couriggsous. They played leash bound (as we live in  town) and Riggs really wanted to unleash and go to play mode. Being a grand dog is like the saying for gardening:  It's a metaphor for life... I could write on abut the metaphor thing except it is play time. I must share...Or rather, I want to share...

becoming

I am now officially becoming 60.