Okay, it’s been 8 months, but really who’s counting? Today I was telling my friend, Leslie, she might want to consider starting a blog about her dog, Lola, and then I remembered my blog, the one that has sat here unattended for months. And I realized that for me to recommend blog writing I need to be doing some writing myself. So I’m back. Who knows for how long, but for now, I’m back for now.
Today Leslie joined me at the retirement home to visit my mom. This was her third visit in a couple of months time. Leslie always brings Lola, her lovable 9-year-old Boston Terrier, who is the hit of the home. If the residents could keep a dog, Lola would be it. She’s a lot like the residents – playful and engaged when necessary, loves to eat and can fall asleep in your lap or your bed at the drop of a hat. My mom likes to share her food – with Lola. And what Lola wants, Lola gets. She can hear the soft cardboard cover come off the ice cream container and she’s suddenly all ears. Standing at attention in front of my mom, her tongue hanging out of her mouth (by the way, her tongue is always hanging out of her mouth) Lola waits patiently for her share of the ice cream cup. And she gets it. My mom can’t resist and half-way through my mom drops her elbow mouth-high and Lola’s tongue is in it – lapping and licking until there’s nothing left but wet, soggy cardboard. My mom smiles and I swear, so does Lola. And this is how the afternoon goes; residents loving Lola and Lola loving them back.
Leslie gets the same love because she so easily gives it. She endures the repetition of questions from my mom and other residents whose memories are very short-lived. Where do you live? Is this your dog? What’s her name? How old is she? Is it a girl? And then 10 minutes later the questions fly out again and Leslie answers them as if hearing them for the first time. And so it goes for the rest of the afternoon – repeating conversations, lots of laughing and lots of love for Lola.
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