May 22, 2011

White Dog rested her back as the others supervised Steve who was trying to organize the storage shed to hold just a few more things. She watched from the arm of my chair and the others surged from window to window and then out the door to the yard as Steve and Michael moved the last things from his family's storage unit to our house. Sadly, it is pretty much a certainty that his mother will spend the rest of her life in the sheltered care of assisted living so over the past few months we have slowly whittled things down to these last boxes which Michael will watch over and manage. Today's move will save them the cost of storage.

Feeling a bit bittersweet, from this acceptance of reality coupled with White Dog's neurological issues and joined by the fact that so many we know are in pain, we pulled close together and spent most of the day spiritually recharging and sending healing energy to those in need. As we focused on positive thoughts, our spirits lifted and we reminded each other of our bounty.

By the time Dragon, Sen-ge and their pawrents joined us we were able to relax into the warm comfort of family and share a meal and conversation. Gregg and Candace prepared ahi sashimi with spicy mango salsa, fish tacos, and sauteed kale. Candace had thoughtfully made frozen pumpkin and yogurt cubes, knowing that White Dog LOVES both...and WD (as well as the rest of WDA) was very appreciative. Humans had pumpkin yogurt parfaits layered with berries and topped with homemade granola.

It always amazes us what incredible magic rises out of our Sunday ritual. All 7 of the pups (White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog, Yet Another White Dog, the Honorary White Dog and the White Puppy) helped by offering ears to scritch and giving kisses and just leaning against a knee. The conversation ranged from heartbreaking (a documentary watched about dolphin kills in Japan) to silly (if dogs are not allowed in heaven, I am not going) to hopeful (discussion of the 2MillionDog march). Around and underneath it all the richness of true communion reached deeply, quietly inside and fed the soul. Though not one of us said it, we all felt it, even the pups, and we offered thanks.

It is our wish that each of you had a similar moment of being refreshed and that your week begins on a note of positive balance.