Category: fortunate

Achilles’ Bentley glows brightly.

We let go of Achilles Saturday. He quite abruptly became lethargic. Had difficulty standing, refused food, so we went to the emergency vet.

The exam revealed that his pulse was thready, she was unable to clearly his heartbeat, his paws were cold. Something sinister (the vets’ exact word) was happening. it would have taken extensive testing and diagnosis to find out what was going on. Considering his age (14? 16? More?), aggressive action was problematic. We made the hard decision to let him go as gracefully as possible.

When we adopt a dog we implicitly make a bargain that we will be a responsible owner, which includes making difficult decisions.

This is the part of that bargain that really sucks.

Nonetheless I would not have it otherwise. As my brother wrote this morning, ‘It really sucks that our dear four legged friends will almost certainly die before we do. Even knowing that I would not give up the love, affection, friendship and fun they give us.’

The Bentley is a forehead blaze common to Australian Cattle Dogs and ACD crosses. When an ACD goes on ahead, the ACD world says ‘His (her) Bentley is glowing brightly.’

Chili’s glows brightly now.

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Never

I have never seen such an exquisite snowflake as this one, on Achilles’ ear. Unfortunately for you, my reader, he moved a fraction of a second before the shutter tripped.

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Accept

I left work a little late today. After running errands I arrived home in the gloaming that comes just before nightfall. Some folks may be unhappy about how early night falls now and will fall for the next several months.

I prefer to not descend into unhappiness about something I cannot control. Rather to accept and appreciate what I cannot change. A time to reflect and give thanks for on the years’ gifts and blessings, to ponder The Great Mystery of the next year.

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Pleasant

Passing a pleasant afternoon, enjoying each other’s company.

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Relief

July’s first half was hot, humid, and frequently cloudless so we endured what we had to. The last ten days or so were like this – a few degrees cooler, often filled with billowing cumulus, and frequent light to moderate rainfall. What a relief!

We will see what August sees fit to bring our way.

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Good for them!

On a recent summer morning this towering cumulus presaged rain. Not for us, for fortunate others. Good for them!

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Most special

Our most special senior Achilles takes his ease, and continues to cut a very dignified profile.

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Glows

Achilles’ Bentley (the white blaze on his forehead) glows brightly, sending calming and healing wishes to all in need.

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The colours of Christmas

Red – tomato. White – onion and garlic. Green – jalapeno, cilantro, lime (the juice of several limes). Sum = home-made salsa.

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2017 was a good year for Faye and I. we have many things to be grateful for. We have our health. A snug home. Work we are nicely compensated for. Three good dogs in pretty good health. Family and friends.

I want to wish each of you, my readers, a safe and very pleasant Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, winter solstice, the season/event you choose to celebrate. Thank you very much for making time to making time to read, view, comment. I hope to continue making this place worthy of your time.

Right and responsibility

Today’s post is more ‘serious’ than usual. I exercised my right and responsibility to vote in today’s federal election. Some of you know that I moved from Texas to Canada in 2007 and became a Canadian citizen in 2011. This is the first federal election in which I am eligible to vote.

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I was blessed to grow up in a very politically aware family. We watched the network news every evening, read current affairs magazines, were encouraged to be aware of politics as well as social and world events. At our dinner table, dinner was served, then discussion which was often about politics and current events. I skedaddled home from school to watch the Watergate hearings which laid bare the paranoia of a President; the evidence brought out essentially forced Richard Nixon to resign in deserved disgrace. Growing up as I did I was aware of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Preston Manning, Joe Clark, aware of Brian Mulroney and the Kim Campbell debacle, Jean Chretien declining in 2003 to join the coalition to unseat Saddam Hussein (that act of conscience and independence made a huge impression on me).

Anyway.

My parents imparted the lesson that voting is not only a right, it’s a responsibility. It went beyond the ‘If you don’t vote you can’t complain’ trope. It meant being educated about the parties and their platforms, the candidates, the issues, comparing all of this to my beliefs and conscience. And participating in our representative democracy in the States, now in a parliamentary democracy. While all elections are important this one is particularly important. I was, am, very pleased to be able to vote.

Sometimes we can become complacent, take things for granted. Being an immigrant, a new citizen, has helped me remember sometimes to not become complacent. I am very fortunate to live in Canada, where the hydro is reliable, I live in a safe community and country, do not have to worry about military coups, juntas, despots, barrel bombs. Where I can exercise my right and responsibility to vote my conscience freely without fear of reprisal, and believe my vote counts.