Love, Life and Puppy Dog Tales

Nearly every day I ask the same question: Why hasn't anyone come for this one? So very soft.  Such a beautiful face.  So gentle.  She reaches out to touch me.  She has known love before.  He does tricks.  He has immense trust in me without ever knowing me before.  She loves to carry a toy in her mouth. She retrieves with joy and would do it all day long.  These dogs, these cats... some of them that come through the doors... it is so very obvious that they came from somewhere, from someone that loved and cared for them.   I look at them and think, surely your person is looking for you.  They will be here for you soon, I am sure. He keeps looking for ...  you.   She keeps looking for... you. A German Shepherd. A German Shorthair. A Pekingese.  A Persian. A Scottish Fold. A Terrier. A mutt. A domestic short or long hair. I wonder if you are looking?  I spend hours scouring lost anima...

I am not political.  I vote.  I will stand up with others when the issue is dear to my heart and life.  Overall, though, I am not political.  I won't stand on a soap box and make Facebook posts about the elections.   When my own civil rights are at stake, I have occasionally made statements about that.   My favorite rant has everything to do with how my marrying my partner hurts anyone else.  I will never understand how people think it will bring about the fall of marriage or civilization as we know it. This election season, I have been fairly silent.  I have shared posts that have messages that I like, but I have made no comment.  Truth be told, until recently, I wasn't worried about this election.    Now, I am afraid.  Tomorrow, people will be voting in an election that, in my opinion, can make or break the rights that 'my people' have gained.   It seems that no one can say, unequivocally that one or th...

All of our lines are busy now... please try your call again later Of late, I have begun to envision myself lying prostrate on the floor, as flat as can be.  Sometimes the vision is a relief, because if I am flat enough on the floor, then everything flying around me, aimed for me, won't hit me. Sometimes the vision is scary, because it feels like I deflated and am nothing more than an area rug for people to step on without really noticing. All the joy in life is gone.  I go through the motions hour by hour, day by day, all the while, trying to muster up the fascade of emotion to match the action, and am sure I often fall short. I get up every morning.  The alarm goes off and the process of a day begins. I go to work every day.  There are bill that are forever in need of payment. The mysteries that once were a motivation are now handled by rote and moved on from without deeper consideration. That that was my recharge, my "do because I want to do, do because it is the r...

I watched as a stranger placed a hand on my partner's shoulder,  looked her in the eye and said "Thank you." The woman moved from my partner and came to me.  She took my hand and said, very emotionally, "Thank you.  Because of what you do, you make it easier for my daughter and her partner."  She hugged me, kissed my cheek and just as quickly, walked away. I was stunned.  Aghast.  Floored.  It takes a lot to get me speechless.  But I was.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  The woman walked away before either of us could say a word. All we had done was dance.   I just took my wife's hand, and walked to the front of the room where we came together and danced. I have to admit, I was scared to do it.  I was in a room full of strangers who were also team mates.  Colleagues.  Strangers, none the less.  They all did the same thing we did.  We were all there to train for the same purpose.  This dance,...

Some of you may remember my adventure when making a name change after marriage three years ago.... it involved a trip to the Social Security office and some not so fun moments and a 'hope' that the employee would either not care it was two women on the certificate, or simply not pay attention....  and *poof* the name change happened.   Not that I could have the name on my passport. But that was a whole different story.... Time has gone on, and things have changed.  That marriage ended and I have moved on.  A new domestic partnership later (because, now marriage isn't legal in CA) and I thought ' WOW... home free again!'  because apparently there had been a change in the law..... and if one partner wanted to take the other one's name, they could.  It was right there in black and white.  You filed it with the State!  WooHoo!!! But it means nothing.  Legally, as per State Law, I can use the new name, but, a small loophole prevents m...

If you watched this episode of House, you will already understand what is meant by Social Contracts.  If not.... here goes.  He probably did a much wittier job of explaining it than I but... Social Contracts are what make you say "How are you?"  when you don't really have the time or the inclination to listen to the answer.   Social Contracts are what make you answer "Fine,"  even when you aren't really fine, because you just finished talking to an elderly couple who is facing the imminent death of their beloved pet and there is NOTHING that can be done to change the outcome.  Social Contracts are what make you say "Yes the chicken was delightful" even when it was dried up and chewy.  Social Contracts are what make you say "How was your holiday?" the Monday after Christmas... But do you really care?  In the grocery check out line, does it really matter to you how your clerks holiday went?  At Doc-In-The-Box, are you REALLY ...

I hope the shock on my face wasn't projected through the room when I saw her.   Always a strong woman, for as small as she is, she always seemed larger than life.  A free spirit who lived, it seemed to a degree, by the seat of her pants and was the epitome of "just do it."  It is only recently that I realized that I am taller than she.  In my head, her presence, her strength, she was always so ... Big. Just a few weeks ago, she was in a bed just a few doors down from the one she is in now.  But she was still that tremendous presence. The laughter rang through the room as we all talked about so much.  It was only a small set back.  Easy to overcome and be back, larger than life in a short jiffy. Today, I was shocked at  how pale, how fragile, how frail she looked.  I could look past the drug haze, but still, the reality of the situation was palpably clear.  She was Pale. Fragile. Frail. Small. I didn't feel this with my own fat...