PAIN, CONFUSION & EXHAUSTION

 POST # 540

Mary is in pain from her new hip surgery.

Dora-dog is confused.

The Thoughtful Wanderer is rather exhausted.

And  very short on words.

The journey continues.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

FROM HOUSE SITTER TO CAREGIVER

 POST # 539

I said goodbye to Trixie yesterday.  The next time I see her, she'll have a bunch of pups.  At least that is what the owner is expecting.  I enjoyed my time with her, but I certainly won't be available when all the pups arrive.  That would be too much to handle for this house sitter.  Besides, it's now time to change occupations.  Starting last night, I am now going to be a caregiver.

I departed Vancouver late yesterday afternoon, en route to Mount Vernon WA, via Amtrak.  The train was absolutely full, but the trip went smoothly enough.  My destination was Shelter Bay, and Mary's friend Karen was at the station to pick me up.  Mary has just had a hip replaced, and Karen has been here for the first week of her recovery.  Last night was the beginning of my training session as a caregiver, and I'll be here for a month.  I was rather overwhelmed with everything last night, and sleep was in short supply, as Mary has to take medication every three hours, which means getting up and assisting her.  Karen has stayed an extra day to help me learn the ropes.  I sure hope that I can do a good job after she leaves.

It certainly is a new challenge for the Thoughtful Wanderer, but it is one that I am more than willing to accept.  

That's all the news for this post, as I am feeling rather sleep deprived as I write these words, and besides, I have other more important things to do right now, in  my  new role as caregiver.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

WANDERING THOUGHTS ON A SUNNY DAY

 POST # 538

It is a beautiful sunny day here today, but my thoughts are wandering elsewhere.  As I write these words, my dear friend Mary, is in the hospital, undergoing hip surgery.  

As much as I would like to be enjoying the day, I am finding that a very difficult task at this time, due to my concern for Mary's welfare.  And this is coming from someone who tries very hard to live in the moment.  That's not working very well right now.

Sometime this afternoon, I should be hearing from her friend Karen,  to find out how things went, and more importantly how Mary is doing.

In the meantime, I'll take Trixie out for a walk, and at least try and enjoy a few moments of this sunny day.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

TRANQUIL TRIXIE

 POST # 537

I never would have thought that I would be using the word tranquil to describe Trixie.  During my past two sits with her, she's been anything but tranquil.  I am enjoying this rather calm disposition that she has now taken on.

Yes, she is older than she was when I was here last summer, so that may be a small part of the reason for her change.  But there is something else that has taken place since my last visit.  Her owner was keen for Trixie to have pups, so shortly before my arrival this time, a suitable candidate was found and he was brought over here to spend some "play" time in the backyard with Trixie.  So it is now possible that she is pregnant, which could be the main reason that she has become quieter.

Apparently it takes anywhere between 58 and 68 days for a dog to have her litter, so I will be long gone from here if/when that takes place.  I'm sure the owner will let me know what happens as time goes on.

In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy Trixie's mild mannered companionship while I am here.

Tranquil Trixie Treat Time.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SAMI BON AMI

 POST # 536

Time is winding down with my good friend, Sami, and soon we will have to say goodbye once again.  She certainly is a relaxed bonehead to be around, and it will be quite the contrast with my upcoming house sit, and an energetic Trixie to keep me on my toes.

According to the American Kennel Club,  a bonehead the size of Sami is approximately the equivalent of 88 years old, in human terms.  I doubt that there are too many humans at that ripe old age, who could do four walks each and every day.  But that's all in a day's life for Sami.  We should all be so lucky to have the same amount of energy at her age.  

So thank you Sami, for being a bon ami during my stay here.

The end of another successful walk.

A strange object showed up in the sky for the first time since my arrival.

 

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

A LESSON RE-LEARNED and SAMI

 POST # 535

THE WHITE ROCK IN WHITE ROCK

Returning to Canada earlier this week, I was contemplating an easy time with Customs and Immigration, when I arrived in Vancouver.  After all, the last couple of times that I interacted with these folks, it all went very smoothly, so I expected the same treatment this time around.  STUPID ME!!!

With the extensive amount of times in the past, when I have had trouble with them, I should have at least kept that in mind when I fronted up to Canadian Customs at the train station.  So I expected to just breeze right on through.  Wrong.  I had a bad feeling even before the agent began asking her numerous questions.  This feeling was brought on by the angry look upon her face.  And so it began.  After the questions, she wrote something on my arrival form and then she directed me to a second room.  Now what?  A second agent had me put all of my belongings on a table in front of her, and after directing me to "Stand two feet away from the counter,"  she proceeded to pull everything out of my two pieces of luggage.  While doing so, she also asked many, many questions.  And then at one point she found three items that caught her attention.  Three containers that had nothing except a variety of vitamin pills.  She took exception to the fact that one of the containers wasn't labelled, and so she was suspicious of what the pills actually were.  Somehow, I managed to talk my way out of this issue.  She then brought up something from two years ago when I was questioned at the border.  They know everything.  For the second time, I guess I gave her a sufficient enough answer, to let her move on with her interrogation, as she continued pawing her way through my luggage.  With her examination completed, while I remained two feet away from the counter, she was finally satisfied.  Then it was my turn to re-pack the mess that she had sprawled all over the place, and after a few minutes, I was finally on my way.  Of course, this too will all be on the record for the next time I show up.  My lesson for the day?  Don't ever again think that going through Customs and Immigration is going to be a breeze.  A lesson re-learned. 

Eventually I made my way to my current house sit location.  This is a return engagement with an old Border Collie named Sami.  She'll be fourteen this coming March, and she has certainly slowed down since my previous visit just last September.  I'm not exactly sure what her age is in human years, but she's old.  The perfect match for this ageing old fart.

We get out for multiple walks each day, but as I write these words, I am reluctant* to go outside as the rain is coming down hard at the moment.  For whatever reason, Sami won't do her business in their yard,  which forces us to go out the back gate each time.  That's certainly not an issue when the weather is fine, but right now it isn't one of those times.  Hopefully things will ease up as soon as I finish this post, and we can get our first of two afternoon walks in.

Ready to go.

A drink before we head back home.

Afternoon nap time.

I'll be here for a little while longer, and with any luck the weather will clear up soon, so that we can go for some longer walks around the neighbourhood.  I'm sure we could both use the exercise, and it's a much better use of my time, than sitting in front of a computer.  

*She talked me into it .  On this wettest of days, she decides to take the longest walk.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

PS.  As always on this date, I have pleasant memories of my dear old mom.  January 21st was her birthday.

JUST DORA-DOG

 POST # 534

Mary sent the above photo to me prior to my arrival this time around.  She included the words, "awaiting patiently."  

For the second time in as many months, The Thoughtful Wanderer once again finds himself short of words for today's blog post, so what better way to fill this post than with a selection of Dora-dog photos,  taken during my current visit.  So here we go.

At the dog park.

Hanging out, looking as cute as ever.

Relaxing after a busy day chasing squirrels.

I'll be leaving this coming Tuesday, but I've already planned for my next visit.  With any luck, all will go well, and in the not too distant future, I will once again have the pleasure of spending time with Mary and Dora-dog.  As long as those US Customs people keep being as nice as they have been of late, another visit shouldn't be a problem.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer