I’m sure the eight of you that actually read my blog have been wondering where I’ve been, or you’ve been so busy that you never really noticed. Those of you that know me probably thought I just stopped writing. I’m a procrastinator, and I have terrible follow-through. No, I haven’t given up. I’ve been sick on and off for a while, and (like everyone else around the holiday season) I’ve been crazy busy. Being sick is horrible, and our dogs hate it too. We don’t let them out as much, they don’t get our attention, and (if your dog is like my Casey) they get sick of listening to the whining and complaining.
That’s right, while I was sick Casey would leave the room if I made any kind of pitiful sound. She loves getting to sleep in on sick days, but not if she has to listen to me. Although I miss her company, she’s still great. Casey only scratches at the door once to go out during the day when I’m ill. Murray on the other hand is a horrible, spoiled brat. He wants to play, and he brings me toys, or harasses the other two dogs. When he realizes that no one will play and entertain him, he pouts. Seriously. Murray will walk over to the bed, rest his head on the edge, and sigh. His floppy lips make him look more pathetic. If he still doesn’t get attention, he’ll pace around the house, and last time he pooped in his bed and the hallway. Not a lot. Not like an accident, but a couple turds here and there. We talked about his dropping problem with the vet, and we came to the conclusion that it was probably from pain after running around because he suffers from hip dysplasia. Now I think he’s just being a brat. He gets attention when he goes in the house, either because we think he’s hurting or because we’re upset. To Murray any attention is heaven. You could slap him in the face and he’d just smile and wag his tail. It’s really my fault. I spoil him. But this isn’t about my being sick, Casey being grouchy, or Murray being a jerk. This is really about Pearl.
Now it could be just because she’s afraid of everything, or because she has become attached to me, but while I was sick she never left my side. Pearl would curl up on the folded comforter by the side of the bed and watch me. If I got up to get a drink, she would follow me to the kitchen and then back to the bedroom. If I decided I wanted to sit in the living room for a while, she would sit in her corner in the living room. Now I thought maybe that’s just how she was, but on the days I was feeling better she did her own thing. Like right now she’s asleep in the bedroom with Murray while I’m in the kitchen. Everyday she surprises me. A year ago, I never would have thought that this scared, white dog, that I was so worried would run off and I’d never see again, would become such a loyal, gentle companion. I wish that she was more confident and outgoing so other people could see just how wonderful she is. I’m not unaware of Pearl’s faults. She is a little spoiled because we are trying so hard to get her to trust people again. She doesn’t like to go out to the bathroom unless someone is out there with her, and she’s becoming quite the beggar. Oh well, nobody’s perfect.
