Dog tales

Since my dad died two years ago, Mom has been awfully lonely. They were married for over 50 years and she has said she wants another heart beat in the house. We visit often and sometimes I take my dog, Lucy, over for the day when I'm at work, but it's just not enough.

Mom has been wanting a beagle and we've been looking at the Northern California Beagle Rescue site for some months now.

We got an e-mail this morning about a six year old female in Mountain View, about 15 minutes north of us. I took Mom up there this afternoon and I think it was love at first sight.

When my sisters and were growing up we had a beagle named Ginger. Ginger was one of those epic dogs. When we were all tucked into bed and Mom and Daddy were watching TV in the evening, one of them would tell Ginger "go check on the kids". They'd hear her nails clicking down the hall and she'd go into each of our rooms to check on us. Then she'd go back to where Mom and Daddy were and look at them as if to say "they're fine" and lay back down.

Today when we walked into the house where the rescue people have been fostering her, Mom got teary eyed. This dog's face looks just like Ginger. She has big feet and short legs and is a bit overweight - we think she may have some Basset Hound in her. But that face!

While we were at the house I looked at Mom and said "she looks just like Gin in the face". Mom just smiled and nodded.

The dog's name is Kansas (which we think is kind of a dumb name for a girl) and she is as sweet as the day is long. We stayed at the house for about an hour and Mom decided to take her home. They have a two week "sleepover" program where the adoptive family decides if the dog is a good fit.

We went to the store and bought her a bed, food, bowls, toy and snacks. I put her bed in Mom's room and patted it and the dog dove right in.

The acid test was if she and our dog, Lucy, got along. Lucy spends a lot of time there and if they don't like each other it'll be a deal killer. Laura brought Lucy over and they got along just fine. Sniffing and playing. Laura curled up on the couch and the beagle jumped right up. Lucy was a little jealous at first, but soon snuggled up with the two of them.

Mom has been calling the dog "Rosie" which I think suits her better than Kansas. They are settling in together and I hope that Rosie will be a permanent pet for Mom.

Goddess of Christmas

One of my friends called me the Goddess of Christmas today. It totally made my day.

Let me back up a bit here. We found out that one of our dear friends is dying of cancer. He has just a few short weeks to live. We adore Fred and his wife, Marilyn, who are both in their 80s.

Fred's nephew put the call out to me for some lefse a week or so ago. They don't know how to make it and Marilyn can't make it any more, as she's in the early stages of dementia.

I had some lefse for the family and we tried to meet for the hand off. Norman and John (nephews of Fred) both live about an hour from me in opposite directions. I had a Facebook chat with Norm on the 23rd to try to arrange for a meeting for the hand off. It just wasn't working out.

I finally told Norm, I'm coming to your house.

On Christmas eve in the morning, I drove the hour to Norm's house to deliver the lefse, a loaf of julekake and a dozen krumkake. My gifts to the family were much appreciated. Poor Norm was hobbling around on a cane, recovering from recent knee surgery, trying to make a nice Christmas for his family.

I feel so good about this little mission of mine. When someone you care deeply about is dying, you feel so helpless and you want to do something. Most times there is nothing you can do. My laundry and baking were done. The house was clean, the gifts wrapped and ready to go. I had the time and the goodies to deliver. I helped make Fred's last Christmas on earth happy and that makes me happy. God bless you Fred. We love you. As the Wizard of Oz said, "A heart is not judged by how much you've loved, but how much you're loved by others". Fred, you are loved and we will miss you when you're gone, but enjoy you while you're still here.