Well, Melissa, it's been over three weeks since I came to live with my new people and I have been busy learning the sights and sounds and smells of my new home.
I thought I'd let things normalize before I made my decision on whether to stay or not.
I knew that the man really liked me when he came to visit by himself.
But I wasn't so sure of the lady's feelings when they came to see me together.
She seemed a little overwhelmed when she was met at the door by a quarter ton of eager Airedales.
I needn't have worried, though. She was soon petting me and talking to
me and we are now very close. She bought me a sackful of play toys and a nice, large, soft bed.
I think this is the first bed I've had in my seven and a half years and it's all my own.
I've been groomed and have a clean bill of health from the vet
(some small things to take care of - no big deal) and
I'm on a diet of some fancy smancy super premium food whose name I can't pronounce.
As sparingly as they feed me, you'd think the stuff was made out of gold.
They're determined to get me from 64 pounds to the proper weight of 55. I guess I'll have to go
along with the plan, although I sometimes have dreams of eating my way through a whole mountain of 'Ol Roy.
I'm eager to make these people happy. I've been good on a lead and have
learned the basics of "sit", "down", and "stay". Also, and this surprises even me, I really
enjoy playing "fetch" and "drop". I can play it over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
The only command I'm struggling with is "stay out of the kitchen".
I still don't have a clue in the world as to what this could mean.
So, Melissa, here is the bottom line on all of this.
I miss you and Ted and the "rat pack", especially Cash and Susie. I really miss Jim and
I hope his life goes well. And I can never thank you enough for all you do for us
Airedale's who accidentally fell into difficult situations. Why, if it wasn't for
you and the other saints of A.A.R.F., many other deserving Airedales and I wouldn't
even be around and that's not good to contemplate.
However, over the last three weeks something mystical and
almost magical has been happening at my new home. The bond between my new people and me,
which was felt but tentative at first, is becoming very strong and permanent.
My new people have arranged their lives to take care of me and
my simple needs because they really want me here. They are teaching me what I must do help
maintain harmony in our home so it remains a happy place. They don't take this responsibility
lightly and I respect them for it.
At the same time they realize things will not always go perfectly
because after all, I'm just a dog, not a computer, and this is not boot camp. They realize
that our main purpose is to enjoy each other's presence; that our time together is but a
fleeting moment, and that I need to be spoiled just a little (this last part was at my insistence).
As for my role in this give-and-take equation, well, there is
little vermin to keep in check here in suburbia and I doubt there are many otters to deal
with in our neck of the woods. Be that as it may, there are still ways I can enrich my people's lives.
If my people have had a bad day for one reason or another - I'll
make them feel better. If they need some foregiveness for any reason - no problem. I've
got a bottomless bag of forgiveness which I offer with no questions asked.
There may be times when they question my obedience and get frustrated
over my impetuousness but they will learn never to question my total loyalty to them.
They are educated and capable people yet I will always keep my
expectations of them low enough that they couldn't possibly fail me.
In short, just by letting me share their lives, I give my people
totally unconditional love and devotion. I love my toys and my bed and the nutritional food
I now have and I appreciate the good vet care they have committed to providing for me.
But my love isn't conditional on those things. All I need is to intuitively feel a
simple unspoken bond and they will always have all that I am.
I think we've put together a pretty good deal here and I'm
going to stay!
Terra
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