Mel: 10 Things I Learn From My Dog, Ollie

Thought I'd share this:

Ollie, your teachings are in Beyond Blue!

*head-tilt, barooo? sniff computer*

You're SOOO SMART! That's a GOOD BOY thing!

*happy dance! complete with helicopter tail!*

The wind from Ollie's big tail knocks some empty grocery bags off the counter.... Ollie makes a terrified look and bolts out the dog door. He is now sitting out there looking in until it is 'safe'.

The animals around us, that we have the blessing of being able to observe, can teach us so many, many things. I have found that they are the most obvious things that I should already be aware of and accept----were it not for the clutter of my life and my mind. I have a ferile Kitty, that chose me almost 10 years ago. I should have begun a blog for her years ago. I have been through a life cycle with her. A cycle much like that of my own. She came here unclaimed, uncared for and unloved. She made her quiet stand to remain even though my husband tried to kick her off before she established any Squatters Rights. She persevered. Oh, the life we have had with her. She is known in our neighborhood simply as "Kitty". Her idea of being an indoor cat is to walk in the front door, meander around through the kitchen and the den and then wait for the back door to be opened. Max. time inside------maybe 2 minutes. There is nothing that makes her feel that 'inside' is better than outside.....not storms, nor a hurricane, ice storms, snow storms and not being very sick----nothing. I could write on and on there have been so many episodes of learning and loving while she has been with me. She has an ear tumor that left about a year ago in response to prayer, I believe. She has never failed to come greet me when arriving home until the last month, or so. She lays on the covered grill well and just watches me get out of the car but will, eventually, come to rub my legs with her loud purr motor running. She sleeps almost all the time now. Can't see very well or hear well. But she still approaches her food bowl with great gusto---no matter what.

Oh, how I love this Kitty. God has revealed so very much about love, life and living in the present moment through my little Kitty.

I hope that this isn't too emotional but I am very emotional about her.

I needed this post tonigt. I haven't been around a dog for almost 15 years, and then it was my Mom's chihuahua, Buffy. To make a long story short, when it became necessary to put my Mom in a nursing home because of Alzheimer's, I told the nurse about her dog. Because (or inspite of) my Mom being "private pay," the home allowed me to bring Mom's dog to the home, and the nurses would take care of her. Needlesss to say, this made my Mom's stay there much more comfortable, as Buffy slept with her and they went on walks together. I will always be grateful to the home for taking Buffy in - and there's a happy ending. A lovely couple whose husband was being treated, took Buffy after my Mom died. There was a special connection and bonding between my Mom and Buffy, and I'm positive my Mother's time at the home would have been much more miserable without the constant love and affection from Buffy. God bless her little soul. She was an angel in a buff-colored coat and 4 legs.