Photo by Angela Kirk

Since I was a young pup, Doc has told me that as I journey through my life, stones will be placed in my way and it will be up to me if I choose to use the stones to build a bridge or a wall.

In my early years, I was not sure what that meant. I was immature and protecting my ego by proving I was right. That was more important to me than listening to and respecting other’s opinions. Shutting my doggy friends down by barking louder and often using my size to intimidate them left them feeling defensive and over time, no one wanted to play with me anymore. The walls I built left me feeling lonely. Through it all Doc gently tried to guide me and allowed me to tell her how I was feeling without judgement. “Some things you just have to learn from experience, putting your ego aside can be hard” she said. It took time but I finally learned my lesson.

Right now we could really use some more bridges in this world. The disagreements and arguing over the pandemic and politics have driven a big wedge between some family and friends. The sad thing is that we all really have more in common than we think and thats always a good place to start. With Thanksgiving approaching, it might be a good time to extend the proverbial olive branch toward building those bridges again.

” Bridges symbolize change and flexibility! They show us this simple philosophy: When you are on one side, you can easily move to the other side.” Mehmet Murat ildan

Photo by Angela Kirk

Doc told me not to stay up all night watching the election results, but I didn’t listen. She told me had a 6am patient in the morning and that we needed to be rested, but I ignored her and now I am paying the price.

I was already tired to the bone from playing with my buddies at doggie day care all day. We didn’t get home until after 4pm and after I took a nap, went outside for while and Doc fed me some supper, I asked to turn on the news. After all, they were saying this was the biggest election turn out in US history and I wanted to know what was going on. Now don’t get me wrong, Doc was interested. she told me she never misses an election because she votes in honor of her grandmother that did not win the right to vote until she was in her 30’s. But Doc wasn’t on the edge like I was. Heck I can’t even vote and I have been waiting for this day to get here so I could find out who would end up being the top dog in the White House.

At exactly 9pm, Doc turned the lights out and went to bed. She was sound asleep in about 10 minutes. I don’t know how she could be so calm while I was biting the nails on my paws I was so nervous. I laid on the couch in the family room and watched the TV so I would not disturb her. As I anxiously watched the colors of the map turn from red to blue and then back and forth again, I finally became blurry-eyed and fell asleep before I even new the outcome.

At exactly 5:30am this morning I was awakened by the sounds and smells of Doc brewing her morning coffee. She came in the family room, patted me on the head and said in a much too cherry voice, “Get up Grover, it is time to get ready to work.” Groggily I opened my eyes, lifted my head and asked “who won the presidency?” ” No one yet she said, they are still counting the votes. Now you’re exhausted because you didn’t go to bed on time.”

What a let down. Doc can be so annoying when she is right.