Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Well the sun is beginning to rise and to the south the sky has bands of dark blue on the horizon and then a hazy kind of pink blue, so pretty. I wish that I could give it justice in my description. So very beautiful. It is cool out this morning but comfortable. The daytime highs are more normal now for this time of year. The trees are standing still.

The last twenty-four hours have been filled with incredible lows, then highs and then lows. How do you manage to live your life when things are so up and down. Good question?

So to the story. Yesterday as you already know was Mr. Alvin’s ultrasound on his belly to check his liver, kidneys etc. We walked over to the vet clinic for 10:00 a.m. I just had donned my mask and was about to call the clinic as we arrived when one of the staff just happened to be at the door so she let us inside. Another clerk gave me the form to sign regarding liability, another went to prepare some blankets for him (I gave her the bag with his blue blanket and for putting his leash and harness in, and with a little whisper “love you”, he was whisked off to the back. It happened so fast. I felt a lump in my throat and then I was out the door and he was left behind. Not forever. I decided that I would pick up a lotto ticket so I stopped at the convenience store nearby. Then home. All the way home, I was wishing that I had told Alvin “I will see you later so that he would know that I would come back.” Back home, I put on a pot of coffee and then once perked, I sat down to think and blindly watch a morning show. I did catch a segment about COVID and the higher than normal influenza season that is being predicted. Once I drank some of my coffee, I decided to have something to eat. I felt very guilty knowing that Mr. Alvin would have to wait for a few hours before he could eat. I always feel guilty. After that, I decided to pull up all of the floor mats and give the main floor a good vacuum followed by washing. I was almost done washing the floor when the call in from the vet. It was Michelle to say that they were done and Alvin was ready to come home. That was 11:45 a.m. Fast I thought but what would the news be, I wondered! I quickly finished and brought in and put down most of the floor mats so that Alvin would not freak out when he got home.

At the vet, I was going over some things regarding the payment and insurance, when another staff said, go see Dr. Karen she is in the exam room with the report. So off I went. We went over the rather lengthy report. There seemed like something was noted for every organ except for his heart and lungs. But gratefully, the most urgent issue was that he has pancreatitis which could be treated with antibiotics. He does have an enlarged liver and the liver is covered with benign lesions. There were a number of other items all related to age. I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Alvin’s Doctor said that he will need to be monitored closely as things could change but for now he is okay. I had a lot of questions. Dr. Karen had one of the staff take a copy of the report so that I could read when I got home. He was weighed and had definitely lost some weight but I was reminded by Dr. Karen that he had not eaten for several hours. After making the payment of over $800.00 including the antibiotics thanks to my daughter (loan), we were on our way. Such a relief.

On the way home, he pooped. It was very loose. Not surprised. I cleaned it up and we were on our way. Once home, I got him settled. He drank lots of water. I gave him a bit to eat. We settled down on the sofa so that I could text family and friends with the results of his ultrasound.

A few hours later, I found out that my coworkers had met with our higher up and were instructed to come back to the office for a minimum of three days per month starting October 3, 2022. Well that was a bit in the rear end. I was just feeling better with the news for Mr. Alvin and then this. Now what. I cannot leave him and will I be able to find someone to watch him for three days a week in less than three weeks time. My heart sank. I was sick to my stomach, well the feeling anyway.

So last night was up and down. I have lots to figure out over the next not quite three weeks. He definitely cannot stay alone as Dr. Karen said he will need to go out for a pee at noon and then have some water and food. That was based on the more slow call back to the office.

Why oh why, could we be one of the offices that allows their staff to work from home.

They make the decisions and I do not have say in the matter.

So that is where we stand. I am going to take Mr. Alvin for a walk.

I know that I will figure out something.

Have a wonderful day.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: at the end of the day the most important thing is that Mr. Alvin is okay for now. That is all that truly matters. The other stuff will work out with some “elbow grease.” He also had a perfect poop this morning.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? I cannot believe it is once again Monday morning. Usually at this time I am working but today is my late start so I am slowly getting up and at things. We were up at 3:00 and 5:15 and then to stay up at 8:09 a.m. What a crazy schedule if you want to call it that. Alvin had to go outside at 3:00 and I gave him one of his glucosamine chews, then we hit the sofa for some more sleep and then he was ready to eat at 5:15. Likely it is not such a good idea for him to eat and then for us to lay down but that is what has been happening now that I am working from home. He has the early time engrained now in his DNA and there is no way that is going to change after 10 years of us getting up between 4:45 – 5:30 to start the day. What a guy he is. Yesterday in the late morning one of my coworkers stopped by to get her tea order and we had a nice visit catching up with all the latest news. She had made a few dates with friends and family and was making the circle as she put it. What a great idea. After the visit and I was done a few household chores, we went for a walk. The walk ended up being only half way ….. he just stopped at one point and I said “Which way?” and he turned and headed for home. Once home I got things ready for his haircut and spent the next couple of hours grooming the Alvin and then a bath. He truly does not appreciate either a haircut or a bath. Poor little guy. This time I had none of his biscuits to treat him with. We spent the rest of the day, Sunday in quiet retreat other than cooking supper. I actually sat down and watched two movies “Must Love Dogs” and “A Dog’s Purpose.” Not quite sure of my Sunday night movie choices. I love these movies and have seen both of them but not for a long time. While Alvin laid sleeping beside me, I sobbed and giggled for a few hours. Especially during the second movie. I will say this, during this past year so many of my friends and family have lost their beloved four-legged family members, and a bit of my heart has gone with each one. I know that when it is time for Alvin to leave me, to leave us, I will be heartbroken and devastated. It has been just the two of us, well for ten years thus far, and I am hoping that for many more but we never know what life will bring us. In fact, it could be me that goes first. No one knows what the future will bring. But I will not dwell on this any further as life starts and life ends. We do have some control but at the end of the day, when it is our time to leave this place, it is our time to go. All we can do is to make the very best of the time that we have here and now.

So now it is much later and the sun is up. The horizon is filled with beautiful hues or oranges and pinks filtering up into the blue. So pretty. How can one not love and admire the sunrise? Appears to be no wind this morning so that is nice.

I was thinking about 2020, the year of COVID 19, the year of a global pandemic, and how this has been such an unexpected blessing for me. I never would have thought in a million years that I would be doing this job from home and actually quite easily. That I would no longer commute to and from the office …. no more early morning chats with the girl that I carpooled with or coffee from the machine at the office ….. or chats with coworkers or shopping …. or any of it, really. I seldom go anywhere except for monthly visits with my friends or once a month to the office and walks with Alvin and to the vet. Of course, I see my daughter from time to time (and today is one of those times). Most of my time is now spent at home. I will say that over the past few months, there have been incredible low points but I am slowly figuring this all out, separating home from work. Which by the way, truly has a new meaning now. I am grateful that I am able to spend this time with Alvin. I cannot imagine him without me being home all of the time now. He likely cannot imagine me not here either. I will say that I DO NOT take anything for granted these days. Nothing. I am more than grateful for my health, for Alvin’s health and for the good health of all my family and friends.

Of course, this virus has changed the landscape of how we work, how we socialize and how we live our lives. Not to be taken lightly is the loss of human life. My heart goes out to all those families who have lost loved ones during this past year. I also think about all those older folks who are left alone and separated from their families due to this horrible virus. I cannot even imagine being cooped up alone in my room all day, perhaps not being able to hear or to see. I cannot imagine. If we look after ourselves and make sure that we are doing what the medical professionals are instructing us to do, then at the end of the day, we are helping those seniors and all others and ourselves.

Time to go now and have a shower. Wash away the night and freshen this mop on my head called hair and get this day going.

May you be blessed with good health, the financial means to live your life and that you are able to share laughter with loved ones every day.

Take Care, Happy Monday.

I will continue to live my life with kindness and respect for all others.

As Always, Carol & Alvin