Sometimes Medicine Comes with a Tail and Four Paws

I'll be honest, I've never been a dog person.  We had a dog growing up, but he and I really didn't like each other.  He was my sister's dog, and that was all there was to it.  I don't remember Scally having a whole lot of personality.  I remember his hot dog breath breathing down my neck on long car trips, I remember him snipping at me as he grew older, and I don't really remember many fond moments with him.  I actually remember being afraid of most dogs growing up.  I've always been more of a cat purrson.

Gretta and Lilly have changed all that (don't worry kitties, Mommy is still a cat purrson too).  Gretta had, and Lilly has, so much personality.  At times, it's easy to forget they are dogs!   Many times, I expected Gretta to verbalize the wisdom that showed in her old eyes, and sometimes, I expect the same from Lilly.  How is it that the oldest and youngest of us seem to be the wisest?  How is it that we lose that wisdom in between childhood and old age?  Whoops, now I'm getting off track--sorry!

Gretta was Noah's dog, but Lilly--she's become mine.  And I really do love this dog.  She's become one of the best things to happen to me.

Gretta joined our family because I insisted that Noah, like all boys, needed a dog.  Shawn was resistant at first, having had--and lost--a childhood dog of his own.  I was persistent, and we soon found the perfect dog for Noah.  Having a dog would teach him responsibility, about loyalty and love, she'd be the friend he'd always have, and there would be so many other great things about the two of them romping through life together.  I was right.  They quickly became inseparable, and she truly loved her boy with all her heart.

Lilly joined our family because I knew she would be the healing balm for our grief wounds when Gretta died. This time when I insisted, Shawn was fully on board, and I didn't have to do any arm twisting.  Again, I was right.  Lilly settled right in with our family without missing a single step, and we haven't once regretted our decision to adopt her.

Life with Lilly has taken a little turn, though.  I really wanted her to be Avery's dog; I recognized that Noah would be busy growing out of us and home over the next several years, and even leaving home, which meant that Avery would be left here with Lilly. And, Noah had already had Gretta.  So, while I had hoped she would attach herself to the boys and become the family's dog, she has attached herself right to my left hip instead.  She still loves the boys and Shawn, and is eager to play with anyone who has a toy in his hand, but I'm the one she centers her life around.  I don't know if it's selfish of me, or just happenstance because I'm the one who is home with her all day, but I'm grateful for her just the same.

I've never been a morning person (I'm still not), but because this puppy needs several walks a day, I drag my sore, tired and weary butt out of bed at the crack of dawn each morning in order to get a walk in before my day gets started.  I love watching her enjoy our early morning walks; her plumed, curled tail flops back and forth as she trots joyously, her nose is lifted to sniff the fresh air, and I swear she smiles.  She barks her morning greetings to the other neighborhood dogs, jumps with excitement (and sometimes tries to chase) when she sees the children gathering at their bus stops, and "talks" to me constantly, chattering in her little doggie language.  After morning chores, during which she follows me throughout the house, sits at my feet, hugs my legs and gives me someone to talk to, we go for another walk.  Then it's errands and picking up Avery, and later, another walk to pick Noah up from the bus stop.

Lilly doesn't like being left alone (she eats everything she can find to show me her displeasure), so I think I'm going to have to start crating her.  I feel like I'm letting her down, especially after everything she's done for me.

Lilly gives me someone to talk to during the day, just as Gretta did.  Sure, the kitties are here, but they're off doing their own things, seldom around for conversation.  This dog makes me laugh--the way she jumps into the picture window when she hears the garage door go up, and I can tell her tail is wagging as fast as it can by the way her head and body are shaking, because she's so excited I'm home, then she jumps to greet me when I walk through the door, wrapping her front paws around my waist in a hug.  It cracks me up to watch her trying to herd the boys in the backyard, and the more boys, the more fun she has!  She gets very frustrated when they all head in opposite directions after she has them where she wants them!  She makes me laugh when she drops a toy in my lap, or at my feet, or brings it to me and keeps it in her mouth, demanding a session of Keep Away instead of Fetch. I love the way she launches herself at me when I'm sitting on the couch and she comes in from playing out back with the boys (her new role in their play is Dr Doom), landing square in my lap; how she lands her kisses all over my face with excitement that I'm finally awake in the morning; the way she sneaks into bed with me, or onto the couch (the two places she's banned from), until Shawn comes to join me.  If she's not settled next to me on the furniture she's not allowed on, she settled at (or on) my feet, or on the floor near my head at bedtime.  She's a fabulous, goofy dog, a terrific addition to our family.  I love her puppy-ness, her happiness, her pure excitement with life.  I'm learning so much from her, and she just makes me happy. She makes me feel unconditionally loved and accepted.  I am missed when I am gone, and greeted wildly when I return.  In her eyes, I can do no wrong.  Everyone should be so loved.

I have to tell you, if it weren't for Lilly, I wouldn't have started this new, much-needed walking routine. My body balks at any kind of exercise and work--not because I'm lazy, but because of my illnesses.  Lilly has been better for me than anything my doctors have prescribed over the last 9 years.  I loved Gretta too, but most days neither of us were inclined to take a walk.  Most days, we sat around comparing our hip pain!  Lilly doesn't understand when Mommy hurts, or when Mommy's body doesn't want to work.  This puppy has more energy than Noah and Avery combined (well, almost....), and the only way to get that energy out is to work it out.  She needs play, she needs exercise, and she needs lots of it!  I'm not exactly walking at a great pace, or even going much further than is necessary for Lilly, but I'm doing it, and to me, that's the important thing.  I'm even looking into running agility with her, or trying to find a way for her to do herding trials, both of which she'd love.  I would never have actively sought out a dog for these sorts of activities (that was my sister's thing), but this is where we've found ourselves!

Now, after I say this, this post will self-destruct.  And we'll never speak of it again, okay?  Because I wouldn't ever want to be caught admitting that exercise might be good for me!  Got that?!?!  But getting out early with Lilly has begun to set my day off right.  I've had a little more energy in the morning, I've felt a little better, and my mood has been a little better.

Medicine doesn't always come in a bottle.  Sometimes it has a tail and four paws, and a goofy, ear-to-ear grin.