I spent my Thanksgiving in a rainy Texas. I drove over 2,000 miles in 6 days to visit friends and family in 7 cities, some upwards of 4+ hours apart. It has always been this way, families far and wide and you want to show your devotion to everyone. This year I was so surprised by three loving little dogs who’d all taken to my dad.
My father’s been lucky to have the support he’s had in the last ten years. From cancer, multiple strokes, multiple heart attacks, and . He’s been a slim man all of his life, but his Achilles’ Heel is his disdain for water. Seltzer water, flavored water, filtered water…none seem to bring him the relief he needs to just swallow it down. His preference is soda, his kidneys argue with him daily. But, he’s still loved and treated well in spite of these habitual drawbacks to his health.
Tiara, a black Cocker Spaniel has taken to my father. She sneaks pass the golden Apple-headed Chihuahua and Terrier to show her face to him. My father, knife in hand begins cutting at his Bar-B-Q ribs to hand her a bite.
“No you will not, Mr. Dan” says his attendant. And my father giggles, despite the dementia, knowing he ought not hand Tiara his Applebee’s ribs.
Tiara tries harder, her DNA has evolved to help her appear so very cute and worthy of the table scraps. My dad looks at her in the eyes. He wants to share.
“I know you want to give Tiara that meat Mr. Dan, but not while I’m in here, you will not,” his attendant, Joy repeats. I chuckle with my father and see that three dogs have come to him, wanting the ribs. They loved my father for his sharing, or perhaps they just loved the way the meat tastes.
“Tiara comes in here and hops up in Mr. Dan’s lap, and he just feeds her,” Joyce repeats.
And my father chuckles.
