After filling my belly with turkey, some stuffing and a little bit of gravy that Doc let me have, I settled down for a nap while listening to the family discuss Black Friday shopping. Since Doc’s arm is still in a sling from her surgery, we all decided it was not a good idea for her to tackle what can be the unruly crowds trying to shop. She was too tired after hosting Thanksgiving, so I don’t think she wanted to do anything but rest on Friday anyway. Some of the family was going to the zoo the next day, so I decided to tag along and boycott Black Friday.

After venturing out of the house, we found heavy traffic and lines everywhere, even at the zoo. I was surprised that when we came to the penguin exhibit, even they had formed a line like there were mark-downs on fish that day. It made me wonder what motivates people to leave the comfort of their homes and family to seek out bargains on stuff that they either think they need for themselves or want to give to others.

There was a very funny comedian named George Carlin that said “The meaning of life is trying to find a place to keep your stuff. Your house is just a place to keep your stuff, so that you can go out and get more stuff.” I agree with George, humans love their stuff and they especially love it when they can find “stuff” marked down, which brings us back to Black Friday.

Everybody gets stressed out during the holiday season trying to buy things for others and many times they overspend to the point of going in to debt. Now I am just a dog, but I don’t think that’s very good for you to be fretting over such things. It’s my advice that we all need to take a step back and really think about what is important during the holidays. For me, that is spending time with Doc, and keeping the real meaning of Christmas in my heart by giving to those that are really in need of help. Now doesn’t that sound better than fighting over marked down flat screens at Target?

The reason I am writing this is to plead with all of my dear readers to talk some sense into Doc as I think she has finally lost all her marbles. As you know she recently had shoulder surgery and her arm is still in a sling 24/7. Would you believe that she still plans to have the whole clan over to her house for Thanksgiving?

Since close to 18 relatives and friends come for the holiday my first question was how was she going to pick up  a 20+pound turkey at the grocery store and get it home, let alone prepare it and get it in the oven with one arm. That woman has an answer for everything. She has already asked someone to take her to the store to buy a turkey and knows where she can get them for 79 cents a pound.

Her nephew Tom was no help when he suggested she pick up the turkey like a football and carry it under her right arm and then drop it in the roaster. Then I heard her tell Jim, her physical therapist that she was trying to think of how she could make a lift for the turkey that had a sling and she could place the turkey on the sling and slowly lower it in to the oven. She has been watching too many episodes of MacGyver.

What Doc forgets is that she is supposed to be taking it easy. I guess taking it easy for her means she only makes two pies instead of 4 and takes a nap in between. I have to hand it to her she is starting to sort it all out and call in the troops to help, but it’s still stressing her out. She doesn’t really like to ask other people for help, because she’s too impatient to wait. If I ever wanted to set Doc over the edge, all I would have to do is tell her she can’t be in control or do anything for one week.

I think it’s hard for her because she has always been so independent and a caretaker for most of her life. I tell her she needs to take some of her own advice that she dolls out to her patients, but she just gives me that steely eyed look and I know she is thinking I should mind my own business. I hope she doesn’t drop the turkey on the floor like she has in the past.

Well, I guess it will all work out. No sense fussing at her and adding to her stress. Doc wouldn’t be herself if she let something like surgery get in the way of the holiday. As for the rest of you, I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving and don’t forget to sneak some left over turkey to the family dog.

Dear Grover,

As you know, the humans just elected a new president of the United States. I need your advice, as I have never seen the people I care about so stressed. Can you give me some advice on how to help them calm down? They are so out of sorts, I am getting ignored as well. I will appreciate any advice you can give me.

Respectfully,

Baily in Buffalo

Dear Baily,

Don’t despair, I know how to help. First of all, never underestimate the power we have as dogs to help our humans get calm and back on track. One of the things that always helps Doc when she is stressed is to get her outside to focus on nature. For example, on Monday morning, I woke her up at 6:30am to get her outside so that she wouldn’t miss seeing the big beautiful super moon among all the stars. It’s hard to look at something so spectacular and not be reminded how small we really are in the universe by comparison. It puts things in perspective.

Another thing you can do to help, is divert your humans attention. If trying to get them to play with you doesn’t work, you can always resort to acting up. Every time they turn on one of those 24 hour political news channels, or start arguing with one another you can steal one of their shoes or favorite items and start destroying it in front of them. That will re-focus their attention. I know that may sound radical, but all this emotional chaos requires radical measures.

The most important thing you can do, is to be a good listener. (You would be surprised the things Doc tells me.) The great thing about talking to a dog is that we don’t talk back and give our political opinions. Just look at your human like they are the smartest and most interesting person in the world. You will be surprised how much that will help.

Finally, the one thing I have learned from being a therapy dog is that everyone can do their part by reaching out and helping others. Remind your humans that the smallest gestures can make a difference. We can all engage in kind deeds even if we don’t like the like the president elect.

Watching all of this fusing between humans makes me happy that I am a dog. So hang in their Baily, you never know who the next president may be four years from now. Personally, I  think President Grover has a nice ring to it, don’t you?

Best wishes,

Grover

There is a rhythm to life if you stop and notice. The  rituals and tasks you perform and people who you encounter on a daily basis become part of your world and you assume they will always exist. Then one day that rhythm is disrupted and a change occurs. It leaves a void in your life that you can’t describe, a feeling of loss because that person or event is no longer present. A sudden change occurred like that for me recently, when Judy, one of my favorite staff members retired after 18 years.

Judy was our receptionist and I met her for the first time when I was only 9 weeks old the day Doc took me to work to meet my co-workers. She welcomed me with open arms and I responded by giving her puppy kisses and curling up in her lap for a short nap.

Over the past four years our relationship developed into a warm friendship. Every morning, I would go to the front of the building where Judy worked and she would always have a treat for me (tasty gourmet treats, not the cheap kind Doc feeds me) and a warm pat on the head. I would sneak into her lunch bag and if I was fast enough, score an extra morsel. Even though Doc would be mortified and offer to buy her another lunch, Judy would only laugh and tell Doc not to worry about it.

As our receptionist, Judy was often the first person that people talked to when seeking addiction and mental health services. She greeted people on the phone and at the front door and I observed over the years that no matter who she talked to or encountered, she treated everyone with the same warmth and respect. I often saw her lend an empathetic ear to anyone that needed it and that included Doc sometimes.

When Judy decided to retire after many hard years of work we were surprised. But, her move to another state to be with her children and grandchildren is her reward for a job well done as she starts the next phase of her life.

It still feels sad in the early morning hours when the agency is quiet and I look down the hall for Judy’s smiling face. I hope she is having fun and relaxing in her retirement, but that doesn’t keep me from missing her.

Last week Doc had to have left shoulder surgery so we are on medical leave from work. Trying to take care of Doc is the worst experience ever. Her niece that is a nurse, has already labeled her a non-compliant patient, bossy and stubborn. Finally, the family sees what I have to endure on a daily basis with this woman.

The day of surgery Doc started out being her regular cheerful self, but once we were at the hospital and they were prepping her for the procedure I could tell her anxiety was setting in. By the time the anesthesiologist came in the room, Doc was trying to tell the poor doctor what medicine she wanted and didn’t want. The doctor was very nice and understanding and eventually responded by giving her medication that knocked her out. Could you blame him? It’s the only way you can get her to stop talking.

After surgery, Doc’s surgeon reported to us that everything went well. Soon she was in recovery where they prepared her to go home. After her release and as soon as Doc was coherent enough to talk again, she started giving all of us instructions. It began on the way home, when she was trying to tell her niece who lives in the same neighborhood what streets to turn on to get home. How annoying.

After we got in the house and got Doc in her bed, she was given strict orders not to get up without help. Did she listen? Of course not. She got up and went to the bathroom without asking and snuck around trying to do other things. The only reason she got caught is that she was still so loopy from the surgery that she kept telling on herself.

The next day when her nephew Bill came to relieve her niece, he was given a full report on her non-compliant behavior. You should know that her nephew Bill is retired military, US Army Special Forces, but I don’t even think his military training prepared him for Doc’s behavior.

Now that Doc is feeling a little stronger she has calmed down some and has admitted to her family that she made some bad choices. The funny thing is that her dad and her Aunt Pat both acted the same way and she swore to herself she wouldn’t put her family through that. I guess what they say about the apple never falling far from the tree is true.

It is surprising how much Doc can accomplish with her left arm in a sling. Personally I think she is still trying to do too much too soon, but it wouldn’t be like Doc to sit around all day.

I am keeping my eye on her the best I can and keeping a record of her behavior to report to the family. After all, she can’t hide anything from me.