When We Are Absent From Each Other

Genesis 31:49 

...“May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other."

Thanksgiving and House Guests

Over the last month I've thought many times of Loretta Lynn's words as she stood on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry and said, "My life's running me..."

"Doo?  Where's Doo?"

Thanksgiving was fine; it wasn't the same without my Pirate Husband but we had a good evening with our family gathered around the table, everyone stating what they were most thankful for this year, and thanking the LORD for bringing us together.  (Which is no small miracle this year!)  

The turkey was a fresh, young bird from Bowman and Landes, where we've gotten our turkey for the last quarter of a century: http://www.bowmanlandes.com/ .  It was juicy and brushed with butter, herbs, and white wine every thirty minutes according to the same Martha Stewart recipe I have always used.  

And then....the "House Guests" arrived.  

Reno at/on the dining room table.

Our son, Michael, is in the middle of a big move and requested, begged, cajoled us into allowing his two pit bulls to stay here with me for a month (or so) while he gets settled.

Reno and Zero (I call her Sister)

Now, I am a dog lover, I really am.  Since my big pooch, Sadie Girl, has gone on to Heaven, I have missed having a big, slobbery, loving pup around.  Or so I thought.  These two grandpups of mine are just about more than I can manage. 

 

Sweet Sadie Girl - beloved friend.

At first things seemed to go well.  Reno is a good boy, good on the leash, halts, heels, and listens pretty well.  Sister (Zero), well, not so much.  The girl is ill mannered, fat, hyper, and because she is a mixed pit bull, her nose is not made for her face and she snorts like a pot-bellied pig all around the yard. But she is just about the cutest thing!  She's loving and sweet but ornery; she's quite the pig stealing every treat from Reno! 

I made a big mistake one night; you know how we can get comfortable and that pride comes before a fall.  I had been out and returned wearing high heeled boots and didn't change to walk Reno.  Well, he saw the neighbor's trash sitting out and took off down the hill of our front yard...with me in tow....in the high heeled boots and a very odd European ski cap...right into the street in front of an SUV.  Humiliated, bleeding, and crawling out of the middle of the street, I cried for him to come back so he didn't get lost.  What a sight for my neighbors!  I called my son as I chased him from house to house - almost had him as he pressed his big red nose against one neighbor's glass door, looking in on them!  Michael ordered me to sit down - just sit down on the ground and Reno would come to me.  That's just what he did.  

I know this slope doesn't look
like much but with snow and being
dragged 30 mph by a pit bull....well.

Now, the SUV drivers, a nice couple from Ireland, must have thought I was drunk or that a pit bull was on the loose in the neighborhood, and called the police.  Here came the police cruiser slowing to a crawl, watching me as I held my head high in that ridiculous ski cap, high heeled boots, torn pants, torn knee, bleeding hand, and pit bull on a leash, marching him home. I smiled and waved hoping he didn't see the tears streaking down my face.  

The Pirate Husband is home now.  He recently told me that if I wanted to get a German Shepherd Dog or an Irish Wolfhound, to go ahead.  That's what I thought I wanted.  Maybe I can make it with the 4.5 lb Chihuahua.  Little dog, little mess.  Big dog, big mess.  As our youngest son said, "No dog, no mess!"  

Please, Reno, go into your kennel
 for Poppi....nope.

What wouldn't you do to help your family, though?  Messes can be cleaned, carpets replaced (I was looking to replace with wood flooring any way, right?), etc., etc.  We love our son and yes, we do love his pups.  He will get them as soon as he can. Prayers would be appreciated!

Michael & his loving pups!