Friday night, I slept!
Perhaps, my chatty, opinionated paintings organized a field trip and went to the beach. Or the mountains.
Or, perhaps, I was just pretty tired. (Truth.)
In any event, I slept and dreamed the sort of dreams that don’t compel me to get up and write or paint or watch paint videos long before the birdies sing.
Mostly, I dreamed about vision. The kind I’m gaining as I go deeper and deeper into Intentional Creativity.
(Which is a pretty big thing for someone who hasn’t routinely “seen the pictures”!)
And the kind that’s more about intuition than it is actual eyesight.
Which may have had a lot to do with Luther’s visit from our dear friend the vet yesterday.
Luther, it seems, is not seeing so well as he was before, and he didn’t see all that terribly well back then.
Which was, for me, a bit of a blast from the past.
My grandmother noticing, the year I was in 5th grade, that I squinted at books and sat very close to the television.
A teacher concurring but reluctant to speak out lest she be, you know, wrong.
Stepping out of the eye doctor’s office with my first pair of glasses, and realizing, as many of you have probably also done, that I could see actual, individual leaves on trees.
Which seemed quite a miracle!
Sadly, dogs aren’t so known for wearing glasses. And, if he had some, Luther might well eat them.
So, research.
It’s a bigger question with this giant breed guy than one might imagine. We’re going to need a veterinary ophthalmologist who is pretty open-minded as to process.
Luther has been through a lot of trauma and I am, it seems, his transitional object.
Rather like Old Bernard.
Old Bernard was Dave’s beloved, and essential, stuffed St. Bernard puppy, complete with crushed pecan shell legs which I spent a fair amount of time suturing up over the years.
Old Bernard got us through many of the tribulations of a small child with a student/working single mom. Daycare. Doctors’ visits. Mom’s exams in nursing school. You get the idea.
And I am, it seems, Luther’s Old Bernard.
We’ve tried stuffed animals. He consumes them.
So, we need a specialty vet in an office as small and calm as possible. A lavender oil diffuser would not be out of order! A little Wholetones music!
And we need a vet who will let me participate.
Did I mention that Luther weighs about 130 pounds?
And definitely sorts for same?
It’s likely that much of the conversation will focus around protecting Luther’s considerably stronger vision in his right eye.
We’ve lived with a blind rescue dog before but wee, Bischon-esque Albert weighed about 18 pounds.
This is a whole different world!
Honestly, I wouldn’t be too surprised to find Luther and Albert and Old Bernard romping around in my dreams tonight.
Until then, I have more prayer dots to make.
Tomorrow, sushi and dumplings at Noodle in Decatur. A fabulous local, pasture raised chicken headed for the Instant Pot. And a huge tray of roasted veg. Maybe two trays. It’s a great way to make easy, real meals on busy days as the week goes on.
Oh, and CODEX (my new painting class which is, perhaps, more of a thinking class) starts tomorrow!
Deep breaths… in and out and in and …
Oh, and the art for today… signs are everywhere, if only we’re willing to see. Even in my bathroom! Complete with a lovely angel from the Southern US folk art wizard, Flack.
