The Kindest One of All...

As he looked up at me, his pink nose, a constant reminder of the gentle soul he is,  reminded me just how lucky we were to have him. This 5 year old, 70 pound yellow retriever of ours had spent most of the morning rocking our world while entertaining his 4-month-old cousin with his special brand of canine exuberance. He was the kindest Lab of all. ...

My 'daughter', now a devoted mom on maternity leave, had arrived with her baby, my beautiful grandson. (I cannot bring myself to calling her my daughter-in-law. Who invented that term, anyway? Sounds like we're outcasts, set up to fail.) Anne wonders if a trip to town might be of interest to me. She is always so thoughtful, so sweet. I remarked that it might be easier for her to come here to relax, a bit of a change of pace, for her, maybe. My car was in repair, she knew. The zoo was open and baby loved to watch, laugh and learn. (An ulterior motive was underfoot.)

Yesterday, my car's front passenger tire blew, having been sliced by a 'vintage' spring mechanism underneath. An 'explosive' sound had me wondering what was happening until I saw the blown front tire. The noise was unlike any I had ever heard coming from beneath a car. How had it happened? Thank goodness, the tire had not blown apart on the road with other drivers nearby. Another 'subtle' reminder of gratitude.

Today's visit was warm and fuzzy, in stark contrast to yesterday's scary tire mishap. My newest grandson watches Mr.Wiggles as he twists, turns, and jumps onto the throw-covered sofa. As Sally, his retriever sister, barks to all, this diminutive human, newly born, begins to laugh, like nothing I have ever heard, coming from a baby. It is a guttural laugh, from deep within his tiny human body. Doggy noises are new to him. He smiles. We smile. Some say babies do not laugh or smile at this age, too young to know or understand. It's just gas. Who started that rumour? This one laughed, no mistake about it. We heard it. We saw it. So did dad, last week. The myth is officially dispelled.

Mr. Wiggles is serious about his role today. With Reggie, the rhino, in his mouth, he goes about his duty to enthrall baby, while wiggling to the absurd. Some dogs can break these 'signals' of mental health: their tails. His incessant 'banter' makes us wonder, will he stop to rest?'. But that never happens. ... He drops Reggie as he begins to anoint his happy baby human cousin with his special brand of immunity. His licking touches the head and face of this cute little bundle. Baby squints, in readiness for the next 'touch'. Baby relaxes. This is the land of make believe where animals rule and we wait for engagement. This is what Momsey calls an enriched environment. Everything interaction counts in the animal kingdom. Mr. Wiggles jumps on the sofa, interrupts mom, licks her, baby and wiggles away, again. Sally barks at all the fuss. Baby laughs again and again. Mommy holds on tight as her son writhes to be released from her gentle grip. Slow and steady here we come.

Babies learn how to treat these civilized dog and cat creatures, who inhabit our daily lives, while mom and dad are present, showing them how. Respect is the name of the game in these daily animal moments. Mr. Wiggles is such a kind retriever. But we worry about his tail. He does not, however. It is possible to sprain a tail that wags too much, I have discovered. Oh my. He just keeps on marching and wiggling like an energizer bunny. But he is a dog. He loves that baby who watches him with such intrigue. 'Winston' is so amused. He's at the circus where animals abound and entertainment happens. Our wiggler lies down now.

He is exhausted, having performed, to the extreme, for his baby. He looks up at me while asking, "Can I stop, now?” "Yes, my sweet boy.Your actions were much appreciated, but you must slow down. Do not overdo it. This little baby boy will be a baby for a long long time. There will be many more moments for Winston to learn all about you and his other animal cousins."... Animals bestow upon us courage, companionship, immunity and reasons to be. Quite the gifts, if you ask me.