Photo by Devin Leary
We have had a lovely fall weekend, despite the fact that Denis wasn’t here. Dev and I went into the city to attend the birthday party of our longtime friend Richard LaGravenese. Richard and Denis went to college together and then Richard wrote the movie, The Ref, which Denis starred in with Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis. Since The Ref, we have remained very good friends with Richard, his wife Ann, and their daughter Lily, who is the same general age as our kids..
Lily is now a beautiful college student, majoring in musical theater and she sang “Unforgettable” to her father, which made me cry. So sweet. But it was a late night and it seriously took me all day yesterday to recover from the excitement and lack of sleep.
Now, I’m back to work on the animal book proposal. It’s easy to be inspired when surrounded by your subjects, as I am.
Photo by Devin Leary
I get lots of feedback.
Here, Snoopy is trying to slam the laptop shut onto my fingers. He doesn’t think much of my writing and believes I should get a day job.
Mark likes anything that is written about him.
Photo by Devin Leary
Many thanks to Elise, who mentioned this interesting New York Times piece in a recent comment. It was in today’s paper, and discusses the ways scientists are learning that dogs are useful, not just for the blind but for people with many disabilities. It says, in part:
“…over the last several years a growing body of evidence, culled from small scientific studies of dogs’ abilities to do things like detect cancer or seizures, solve complex problems (complex for a dog, anyway), and learn language suggests that they may know more than we thought they did. Their apparent ability to tune in to the needs of psychiatric patients, turning on lights for trauma victims afraid of the dark, reminding their owners to take medication and interrupting behaviors like suicide attempts and self-mutilation, for example, has lately attracted the attention of researchers.”
Very interesting.
Photo by Devin Leary
Well, this one doesn’t have to turn on lights or palpate my breasts for lumps or talk me off of window ledges or any of the other amazing things these fancy therapy dogs can do, but she is a great shrink.
She’s just a good listener. She doesn’t believe in telling you what to do, but, rather, she listens quietly while you wail and sob and whine and complain and she lets you come to your own resolution, in your own time. She’s like a blank canvas – allowing her patient (she just has the one – me – but I’m a full-time job) to project all her anxieties and fears and sadness onto her, which she absorbs, and reflects nothing back but an unconditional and all-abiding love. She’s a great, great shrink, and her hourly rate can’t be beat.
What a great post. Thanks, as always, for sharing these wonferful stories.
So very, very true….they are perfect listeners, sounding boards and such gentle comforters; they love to kiss away the tears. And–want nothing but love from us….who could ask for more? Barbara
What a wonderful post. And I love how you’re crediting Devin for her photos. What a great Mom.
Horses and dogs, how could you go wrong? I look forward to reading the Times article. I know the amazing work that service dogs do, but didn’t know that they can actually help with psychiatric patients. Amazing.
Interesting that you bring this up today. I had a wonderful conversation with the father of the most amazing boy at Ivy Hill yesterday, and part of it was about the boy, Phillip’s, service dog. Phillip has a very rare form of Cerebral Palsy, one that many pediatric neurologists aren’t even aware of. The dog sleeps with Phillip in case he has a seizure, stops breathing, etc, and is a wonderful source of companionship.
I have to talk about Phillip because it was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. In the lesson I was doing, the rider does the last half without me leading the horse – he takes the reins. I was walking across the ring to go into the stable when I saw this boy with the most incredible smile. He absolutely radiated joy and happiness. I was drawn to him like a magnet, like a moth to the light. I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I’d wanted to. Now I haven’t been there long, and don’t have experience with special needs kids, so I will say hi, and of course interact with the riders I work with. But I tend to stay in the stable with the horses in between lessons.
Anyway, Phillip can speak, but not very clearly, his father had to interpret. It was a joy talking to him. But just being near him, his joy just radiated onto me. I had a break due to a cancellation, so I sat and watched his lesson with his father. (I wished I was doing side-aid so that I could be with him for that half hour!)
For the first time I got to talk to a parent about their child’s disability, what the riding has done for them, The fight to get the school district to provide the proper educational opportunities, etc. The thing that struck me the most was him saying that Phillip has always been very social and loving, even as an infant, and I could tell just by listening to him that even though it has to have been really tough and a lot of hard work, he and his wife wouldn’t trade Phillip for any ‘normal’ child in the world. I’ve always been a person who feels that science and technology sometimes goes too far and saves/keeps alive babies who shouldn’t survive due to severe disabilities. (Please don’t hate me for that, that’s just my opinion.) For the first time I was able to see the joy that a severely disabled child can bring to his family and even to a stranger like me. I can’t tell you how deeply this boy has touched me and affected me. It makes me get all choked up just typing about it now.
Sorry, I really went on didn’t I? I just had to share the story of Phillip. Meeting him was a life altering experience for me. Ann, thank you again for blogging about Little Britches. That made this beautiful experience possible. And more to come in the future.
dear ann thank you,
it is true that an animal can really do something to your life and i don’t really know how to define it. until about 10 years ago i was not fond of pets and certainly not dogs. i will spare you the details but i” lost” my very sweet and loving father when i was about 10-11, a top stock broker for merril lynch a little before his 40th bday he fell into a deep depression, there were no drugs to help in the mid/late sixties, he never recovered, we lost everything.
a single mother, in 1999 at age 42 happenstance put a retired guide dog into our lives. a few days after mr. eider’s death in jan 2008 i realized he had been the first dependable, stable, strong unflappable male presence in my life since my father; a good man but sick beyond repair had crashed.
it took a moment but after a year or so i adopted eider if i felt someone did not have their life together was not steadfast and dependable i turned away very quickly, never again thinking with a little help and love things could be turned around.
not a dog experienced person i don’t know why i adopted mr. eider , only that just as i deciding to go on with a pregnancy knowing i would have no choice but leave the man and raise the child on my own , i felt it was a good thing to take mr. eider home; all 97 lbs of him………..i am not sure my husband and i would have known we were meant for each other had eider not been in my life by the time we met. my now husband was a dog nut,,,,me, not so much at the time but i loved mine. it never dawned on john that a women with such a huge dog was not a dog nut!
mr.eider loved john right away; the first time john and i kissed we were walking him and klemmie my daughter’s little pug, eider came right over and nudged us both for kisses and hugs………me too, me too, we burst into laughter and never really parted again.
xxxto all,
elise
Ann, I know you are up early in the a.m. tending the herd but after reading about the party, what time to you usually turn in at night? How much time at night do you spend reading before lights are out?
Ann: truly a lovely post. The relationship between animals and humans can be an amazing one. I have been involved in assisted animal therapy for 3 years now. My white shepherd Tyler is certified through a wonderful organization. We visit various facilities; children with cancer, Alzheimer units and nursing homes. We will go anywhere we can. I do have an interesting story where he totally surprised me off duty. I took him one day to his favorite watering hole………the dog park where he can play with his buddies that he has come to know. The park was pretty busy this particular day and I saw that his buddies and their moms and dads were there who I’ve come to know. We walked through the gates and in the corner of my eye I saw a middle aged gentleman in a wheelchair surrounded by family. They had a small dog with them and they seemed to be enjoying watching all the dogs playing. In an instant Tyler immediately ran over to him and parked himself next to this man. I walked on, not thinking much of it until a good amount of time went by and it became a joke with the moms of the other dogs. “why is being so antisocial today?”, “Doesn’t he want to play”. Then it hit me and I thought how stupid am I. In his mind, he was on duty. His therapy assisted jacket was not on him and neither was his bandana but I think because he has spent so much time around durable medical equipment and understanding the energy of the elderly, handicapped or ill individuals, he was drawn to this man. Eventually I went to speak to them and of course they were enjoying the attention Tyler was giving them and vice-versa. I was so amazed at how steadfast Tyler was about being at this man’s side and providing comfort. When I talk about energy – Tyler cannot wait to get into the truck and go on his visits. He’s very excited but as soon as we walk into a facility, his energy level changes to one that is much more low key, gentle and approachable. He seems to know that we’re going to work now. He has a ball and enjoys it so but nothing, nothing is better than seeing the faces of these individuals light up when he approaches. Its a wonderful feeling to know that he has made someone’s day and you leave them smiling.
Great, great stories, ladies. Thanks for sharing them.
Elise, I’m so sorry about your father. That must have been devastating. Your story of Mr Eider is beautiful. Growing up with cats and dogs, and having cats all of my adult life, I can’t imagine coming home to a house without them. They really make the world a better place, and a house a home.
Kim, I didn’t know you did assisted animal therapy. That’s wonderful. One of the worst things for my father being in assisted living and then the nursing home was not being at home with his and my mom’s cats. He missed them so much. He really loved it when someone would come visit with a therapy dog or cat. So I know how valuable the visits you do are. They provide sometimes the only bright spot in an elderly persons dreary boring life. Thank you so much for doing that.
Tracy – I am so happy for you that your life’s path has crossed with Phillip’s. I find that if we be still and just let life happen, we will become so enriched with what comes our way. You are experiencing this through your new found love of horses. You, my friend, have just begun a new chapter in your life. Feel it with every sense you have, and you will be blessed more than you can imagine….
Elise and Kim, love your stories….again showing the grace of dogs…..DOG spelled backwards is GOD, they are magical!
I absolutely hate it when I’m reading in bed and Scungilli decides to jump up and palpate my breasts! She may only be 49 pounds, but I swear she has the pointiest feet in the world…and she has the grace of a freight train going sideways. I love my girl.
Tracy, Elise and Kim,
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful stories.
Catherine
Candy, it’s funny you asked that question today, as I went to bed at 8:00 last night! Was up at 4! To me, that’s a perfect schedule as I do my best writing in the morning. Lately, I’ve been staying up later and waking up to the alarm at 6 and feeling tired, so I’m very excited about the clocks changing. It’s more my natural rhythm. I’m a winter person and like the days to start and end earlier.
How happy I am to wake up and read these very moving posts about your relationships with your animals. That’s what I’m writing about and I’d love to hear more stories. Thanks.
aww i read this this morning now crying again
thank you all for sharing your stories
this blog and blog community is freaking amazing
in the words of my sometimes drunken hubby
i love you man
Ann, nice post this morning and you have brought out some lovely comments(stories) from our regulars.
Another service I didn’t see mentioned or maybe missed is that dogs are used by the deaf/hearing impaired to alert to phone, doorbell, alarm clocks, smoke detectors, etc., etc. Aren’t they just the most wonderful creatures?
: )
The expression on Daphne’s face is so beautifully telling. It’s as if she, too, is listening to and enjoying the stories Tracy, Elise, and Kim are telling.
By the way, Judy, I love the name of your dog, Scungilli. If she were my dog, I would probably walk around all day signing her name and then need to eat a big bowl of pasta or something.
Whoops! I meant to say I would be singing Scungilli’s name all day, not signing it. Though in the context of this post, I’m sure the signing would also get my enthusiasm for her name across, and I would still eat a bowl of pasta afterward.
Ann, when I got to work this morning I printed two of MP pictures, that super Halloween one and the one from about a month ago that we where all trying figure out how he did it with the trees and leaves. We have a nice color printer here in the office and I love how they both printed out. Last night I watched Maggie Smith in the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, what a good movie, and I would have never watched it if not for the blog. Thanks much, loved it.
Candy, isn’t Maggie Smith amazing in that film? I don’t want to ruin anything for those who are reading the book so I won’t say too much, but when Maggie Smith is showing the girls the slides of her trip to Italy, after her run-in with the headmistress, and her passionate speech. Oh, I could watch that over and over. Another great book and Maggie Smith movie: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne. Sooooooo good. Maybe we’ll do that book next. It’s set in Ireland.
Tracy, beautiful post. I’m so happy that your volunteer riding program has turned out so fulfilling.
Kim. I have to fight back tears on this one. Two weeks ago I had to move my mom to the ‘secure unit’. She started wandering. One of my biggest fears was the loss of her friend’s pets in their residential village. Also I used to bring my dog up to see her. You can understand how happy I was when I learned that a couple of times a week some wonderful volunteers bring their trained assist dogs in to see my mom and the 20 other residents. Animal contact is the one thing, I believe, that is keeping my mom from slipping away faster. Thank you for volunteering and making a difference in the quality of life for people.
Haven’t they proved that petting a cat or dog brings down your blood pressure?
Kristin,
I’m so sorry to hear that your mother had to be moved into the secure unit. Changing rooms is one of the most difficult things for the resident and the family. I hope you have someone from the facility able to coach your family through this. If you need to talk, please e-mail me. I have been taking a lot of classes recently for my job with seniors and I’m hoping I’ve picked up a nugget or two of information that might be of help.
Catherine
Oh Kristin, I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom having to be transferred to the secure unit. I know how hard it was on my family and my Dad just for him to go from Assisted Living to Skilled Nursing, let alone to a secure unit. He died before that became an issue.
I am so glad that there are wonderful volunteers all around the world who provide this service. God bless them and their animals.
Ann- I just got The Ref from Amazon this weekend for my collection. I thought perhaps the fellow bloggers would like to rent/buy, Two If By Sea, a wonderful movie written by Denis Leary, Mike Armstrong and Ann Lembeck – it’s a riot with one of my personal fav’s Sandra Bullock!! and of course Denis Leary. There are some classic lines in this movie.
Ann -
I loved today’s post, with the photos of Daphne and the horses, especially the one of Mark with his muscular neck outstretched. Such a beautiful horse – and those eyelashes! And then there’s Daphne the shrink. Devin caught her with a wonderful expression. And what a face! She is beyond cute and sounds smart and loving as well. My Welsh Terrier Charley has a very expressive face and also does shrink duty for me. He reads me so well and knows when I need extra loving. The NYT article was interesting.
BTW, what’s the status of the Leary “adoption” proceedings? Will it be a puppy or Peanut or BOTH?
Thanks for the amazing Moses photo posted on Halloween, and also the poem. Gave me chills. I’m going to try to print the photo. I think it’s one for framing.
Happy All Souls Day.
Linda
Hmmm, Mary L, Ann Lembeck- wonder who that could be. Yup, I do know,geez, she didn’t tell us she wrote for movies too. Gotta look for that one.
: )
Tracy – you have no idea how proud I am of you taking up riding. Fantastic.
Kristin – I too, am sorry to hear about your mom. Very very difficult and I do not think anyone truly understands that situation unless your actually in it.
I remember a few months ago taking Mr. T to a facility where I met a 37 years old woman with severe dementia – yes, 37. Seeing Tyler and petting him must have triggered something in her past, perhaps her childhood and she began to weep uncontrollably. I am usually fairly stoic and composed but upon witnessing her reaction, the tears came for me very quickly. I did not know what to do. She just kept hugging him and I stayed with her a long time until she composed herself. Her speech was unintelligable so I just kept talking to her trying to recall her pet memories. My heart broke because she just would not let go of him and I didn’t stop her. That was a particularly memorable experience and he knew she really needed a buddy at that moment. I hope those visits continue because I truly do believe it evokes something from the soul so buried. Truly, truly God’s creatures. Unconditional. Thats enough……..now I’m getting upset.
I forgot to say how much I enjoyed all the ghost stories. I’m still waiting for an encounter.
Judy – I, too, love the name of your dog, Scungilli. I have a friend who named her dog Pastina. Then there’s always linguini or tortellini, and on and on. What is Scungilli’s breed/mix?
Linda
Ann:
This morning when I went to your blog on my office computer, I noticed a “sort” button, which allowed me to put comments in either oldest-to-newest or newest-to-oldest order. The new sorting system does not fit my reading style, and I have been unable to adjust to it. Also, my vertigo and dizziness have reared their ugly heads for the past five weeks, and reading down in each comment only to have to scroll back up to the next comment is literally nausea-inducing for me. So imagine my delight when I was able to switch the sorting order so that I could read in a downward motion continually!! However, when I got to my home computer, this button was not available. What could I have done wrong? Am I merely overlooking this option? Please help me, if you can.
Love your Doolittlesque bat-titude, Ann, and am fondly reminded of one of my sons’ favorite childhood books: STELLALUNA by Jannell Cannon (1994.) It’s an endearing tale of Stellaluna the Bat, who takes refuge with birds when she loses her way. No worries, though; all ends well, as it appears to be doing with the furry fliers in your care. All the best to (wo)man and beast at your end, from mine.
I was in a class on dementia recently and the speaker was telling us about a patient of his who soothed herself by reaching down periodically to pet her dog…but there was no dog there. She had a total sense memory of a dog from her youth and would reach down and make these petting motions and it would calm her. Makes me weepy just thinking about it.
Elizabeth!!, so good to see you back, I’ve missed you. So sorry to read of your health problems. Hope you can stay with us.
: )
The Ref is one of the all time funniest movies ever. Denis and Kevin Spacey are perfect together. I only discovered it about 2 years ago. I rented it, and went online and bought it the next day.
I read the Times article, it’s wonderful. Thank you for sharing it Elise.
Kim, there you go, making me cry again. First of all, dementia at 37???? Unimaginable. Dementia/Alzheimer’s is my greatest fear. My mother’s mother had Alzheimer’s, and my Dad had the beginnings of dementia or Alzheimer’s, though it could have been due to vascular constriction. My mother has become a total ditz – she forgets everything, she has trouble finishing sentences, etc. It could be due to a minor stroke she had 2 years ago, but could also be vascular dementia. The neurologist said he didn’t think it was Alzheimer’s when we saw him this summer, and he wanted to do another MRI this fall to compare to see if it was the stroke or vascular problems. Anyway, it’s my greatest fear to have that happen to me.
There you are Betsy! Welcome back. I have the toggle comment thing on my computer and assumed everybody had it. Hmmmm.
I am tearing this house apart trying to find the USB cord to the camera. Just took some amazing shots of the moon that I want to post. Can’t find it anywhere.
Did you check your nightstand?
Hi Ann and Betsy – I don’t have the sort/toggle button either.
Linda
Catherine, no, but just for that – as punishment for your sarcasm – I am going to photograph the nightstand as it is at this moment and you will be so sickened, so horrified, you will wish you the word nightstand was never invented. There is a GIANT bottle of mouthwash next to my bed. I don’t know why. My husband is out of town, have not been entertaining any other men, and even so, it’s mouthwash. There’s no place to spit. I think it appeared there when the workmen were cleaning out the bathroom for the construction. There are also packets of self-tanner, though I haven’t oranged myself up in months. Oh, another thing I’d like to photograph – all the tape I use to seal the bathroom door to keep the bats from crawling into my room. All these wonders are waiting for you to behold. In my camera. But no USB cord.
Linda, Betsy, the toggle buttons look like quote balloons, right above top comment. You don’t have those?
Ha! I can’t wait to see this! Say a prayer to Saint Anthony – never known to fail. He’ll find the USB cord.
Ann, you crack me up!
Bring it on. I’m prepared to be sickened
I once had two USB cords. Now, apparently none.
Ann,
What a beautiful post and I LOVED the photographs. I have three dogs, a cat and three chickens and all of them enrich my life in different ways. However, Finny, my three-legged lab/chow mix is the one that gives me life. In the summer of 2008, I lost my oldest son, Kevin, to heroin. Ten years earlier my middle son, Nolan, was killed at work in a fall that Kevin survived. Kevin never really survived, he just existed, but one day he finally found eternal peace. To say I was devastated is an understatement. But, one day, while visiting the humane society, I saw Finny. She ran and played and jumped, seemingly oblivious to her missing leg. She came home with me that day and has been with me ever since. She is truly an inspiration; she has made the choice to live a full life because to her there is no other choice. Just like me. I can lay on the couch all day and eat chocolate or drink like a fish OR I can get up and enjoy life. Either way, at the end of the day, they’re still dead. Finny taught me to live. She’s a champ!
No, Ann, the sort/toggle button is not showing up on my home computer. It was there big as day this morning at the office. Mighty weird, huh??…. When I enter your blog from my home computer there is a space between the sentence which states how many comments are on each post and the first comment, but no balloon. Please, please find me my balloon, Ann–my vertigo and nausea don’t like up-and-down reading!!
lolol Catherine, and an even bigger one to Ann for giving it right back to her! hehe Hope you find the cable soon!
I have the toggle icons at home and at work. Are you using firefox or internet explorer? Are you updated to the latest version on which ever one you’re using?
Linda, I really like Pastina–both the dog name and the soup! Scungilli shows characteristics of all her parts, it’s kind of funny sometimes. Her mom is lab and staffordshire terrior and her dad-get this- pointer and shetland sheepdog. Ann, did you check your jacket pocket? Or maybe Snoopy has it.
Liz, you are a true survivor! I’m sure happy you and that three-legged dog found each other! A bit like two wounded souls coming together and becoming stronger at the broken places.
Isn’t there a poem about becoming stronger at the broken places? If anyone knows what poem I’m talking about, please let me know. It is really fitting.
Thanks,
Catherine
Ann, several things- first, I thought the exact comment Catherine posted (did you check the nightstand). Second, I have no sort button, never have. Last, I need to share a pet story. My middle kid has depression issues, she is living out of state and that doesn’t help. About two years ago she went to her local humane society and adopted a small, mixed breed dog. He has been her absolute saviour. This little guy goes with her nearly every where, and when someone remarks that he can’t be “there” she tells them that he is a therapy animal. And he is! She would not have been able to do all that she has accomplished, and gone as far as she has, with out this little guy. His name is Indiana Sunshine (she calls him Indie) and he is the sunshine in her sometimes cloudy life.
Liz, you and Finny are my new heroes. When my sister passed away two years ago, I know that it was her dog, Sheba, that helped my 12 year old nephew make it through each day, one at a time.
Kristen I know how hard it is to deal with a failing parent. My dad had to go into assisted living this month and it is tough on him… my prayer are with you
On a happier note this is a true dog story. A friend had a stroke and her pom yes a tiny pom jumped on her chest and got her heart started again. She came to watching the dog the dog doing in and she was then able to phone for help.
My pom Beau is ill and it feels just like having a family member dying but most people don’t understand that.
Kathy Close, I’m pretty sure most of the people on this blog site can understand your growing sense of loss over Beau. It feels like losing a member of the family because that’s exactly what it is. Experiencing the loss of a loved one, whether it be the slow, diminshing loss from age or illness or the sudden, unexpected loss is entirely devasting. Finding the right being with whom to feel safe and share your grief I believe, is the only way to get through it. I’m a newbie here on this blog site, but already I’m certain you’ll find that kind of support right here.
Catherine,
I don’t know of a poem that talks about mending a heart at the broken places, though it would seem a lot of poetry is just this. But there’s a fairly famous line in Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” that says: “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”
Colleen, thanks for that. Very nice.
Liz, I am holding you in my heart, I only hope you can feel it. I miss my son all day, every day. Hope you read Tammy’s post, it is so beautiful. xoxoxo.
Liz, you are an amazing woman. Honestly, I don’t know what to say other than I can’t even imagine living through what you have, and that you and Finny found each other for a reason. You saved each others lives. I’m so glad that Finny taught you how to live. Your boys would want that.
Julie, I’m so glad your daughter has Indie. What a beautiful story.
Betsy, I’m so glad you’re back. I’m sorry to hear about your vertigo problem. I had it once, briefly, and it was not fun. I can’t imagine having it for a long period of time.
I cannot even imagine the impact of one loss nevermind two. Such strength to endure so much. Amazing. Lots of hugs…. (((((())))))))
Tracy: Thanks for the tip about checking the version of internet explorer installed on my home computer. With my husband’s help this morning, I was able to update and–voila!!–the sort option folders appeared!! Happy am I!
My heart and deepest sympathies go out to all of my fellow bloggers for their past and recent losses. Death is very difficult for me to deal with, so I empathize greatly. And, Kathy, your concern about Beau’s possible death is completely understandable. Your dog is a member of your family. That’s a given. Good gracious, my husband and I feel as if the dozens of barn cats we take care of are members of our family. Your feelings are valid and to be respected.
By the way, it appears as if the times of comment postings have reverted back to Daylight Saving Time. It’s odd to see that someone added to the blog an hour in the future…..
Ann, Tracy, and Annie: Thanks for welcoming me back. I hope to be feeling well enough to be able to compose thoughts and type them out. Rest assured, even when I was feeling the worst, this blog remained a soul-soothing, entertaining, and intellectually stimulating place to visit. Reading a book also induces some nausea (which is devastating because books are essential to me), but I am able to read this blog in short visits. Thanks to all of my original, long-time AL bloggers for continuing to be so interesting, and welcome to all of you who discovered the amazing Ann Leary through the New York Times article. You will never regret making this website a daily part of your lives.
Jeez–too much typing. And this took way too long to write. Must rest my brain and head.
Colleen,
Thanks for that quote from “A Farewell to Arms.” That’s exactly the line I was trying remember!
Catherine
You’re welcome Betsy, glad I could help. I’m so glad you’re back.
As for the blog reverting to daylight savings time, it’s just like my stupid new alarm clock. I didn’t realize it did it automatically, so I changed it Saturday night. I realized Sunday when I went to bed that it was an extra hour behind, so I reset it. Well the darn thing keeps resetting to an extra hour behind! I want my 30 year old alarm clock back! It was dependable, and didn’t have stupid alarm settings like weekdays, weekends, 7 days a week. grrrr
Ann,
First, please tell Devin that her photographic skills are great! The photo of the leaves is very cool. I’m always so impressed by people who can see something so ordinary (leaves stuck to a window or windshield perhaps?) and make it into a unique piece of art.
It’s so true that our animals are our therapists. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve melted into Midnight’s neck (my Thoroughbred) and told him everything…and he just “gets” me. I can’t explain it. He’s my boy.
I’ve always thought cats were more aloof than dogs when it came to “listening” to their people, but on one occasion when a very special dog in our family passed, I was sobbing in the shower that evening and my cat, Monster, actually got *in* the shower with me and just sat there, getting soaked and blinking away the water, but he wouldn’t move. I’ve never seen anything like it.
I also had the unfortunate need to wear a heart monitor (at age 29) this past October for 14 days. It would go off with a horrible sound if something was off or it sensed an arrhythmia. One evening I was on the couch and it went off, and I couldn’t shut it off (it really makes a dreadful noise!). Monster leapt up onto the couch and kept pawing at me, jumping on my chest as if I were sleeping and he was trying to wake me up. I really think if there were a fire in our home, he’d be the one to alert us!
I think my favorite story was a woman I knew who had a cute Palomino QH. Her mare kept smelling the woman’s belly, or pressing her muzzle on the woman’s belly, and was quieter than her normal spunky self when being handled by her owner. Turns out the woman was pregnant – and the mare knew before anyone else, including her owner! Isn’t it amazing?
Liz, I am so sorry for the loss of your sons, and so grateful that you have Finny and your other furry/feathered friends. My dogs and horses have kept me going through some dark times as well (I lost my beloved brother to an overdose last year as well). Let them work their magic.
Kimberly, Monster is an amazing cat. Truly. I’m sorry to hear about the heart monitor, I hope everything is ok.
I loved hearing about you melting into Midnight’s neck. Being newly horse crazy, I totally get that. I do that every time I see my favorite horse Kayden. There’s nothing like it.
The mare knowing the woman was pregnant is amazing, and actually gave me goosebumps. Incredible.
Hey, Richard LaGravenese was the screenwriter of “The Horse Whisperer”! I LOVED that movie. AND “The Bridges of Madison County”. AND “The Mirror Has Two Faces.” And a bunch of other movies I have loved. (Can you tell I just IMDBd him?) Very talented guy.
AND he’s a Scorpio!
Ann, I love the way you write about your animals! Those of us who treat our animals like they are a part of our family know that they really have great personalities. I swear my sister’s cat once gave me the finger… I mean the paw. She has no tolerance for human incompetence; that’s right I gave her the wrong can of cat food while cat sitting.
Tracy, thanks! Everything is ok – working in NYC + buying a farm (drama!) + heart issues in my family, they just wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious. I have an arrythmia but it’s nothing to be concerned about…and it’s brought on by stress! Who would have thought?!
Melting, yes, that’s the only word I can think of for it. I’ve had Midnight since I was 12 and he was 5.
Colleen:
“Let them work their magic.”
Amen, sister.
Oh my goodness. What incredible stories. I’m sitting in the computer lab at my school blowing my nose and wiping my eyes. So glad I thought to put a kleenex in my pocket before I left the house today. I have been thoroughly enjoying Ann’s blog since I heard about it in the NY Times slide show (I don’t usually feel a need to look at celebrity’s houses, but the picture of Denis feeding something… can that be yogurt?… to his cute dogs was too much to resist), but haven’t posted anything until now. How could I resist this post when so many comments have been so touching? Thanks Ann and everyone for sharing your stories and making me laugh and cry.