It’s been a bit of a week!
On Thursday, Luther had his eye surgery. It was a very long day, made do-able by major assistance from our crew of gracious and supportive Dog Aunties.
The procedure went well, for which I am very grateful to the ophthalmology team and support staff at the Blue Pearl specialty vets on Howell Mill Road.
My very large, fuzzy buddy and I are now on our third day, camped in our new family room/library space.
Sarah and Phoebe have been helping with the healing by enjoying a Camp and Spa break. They’ll be home Monday which means that today we’re working on “normalizing” our routine a bit. Cutting back on pain meds. Spending a few more minutes outside, bonding with Dad. Moving around the house a bit more.
Luther has done the vast majority of the sleeping.
I’ve been channeling the long ago nurse that still lives inside me. Meds. Soft food. Watching the swelling. Listening to him breathe.
Blessedly, the Muses have been keeping me company.
First, the one pictured above, from my Color of Woman Muse painting.
Her face is marked with the Greek words for optical seeing, visionary seeing, and knowing, which reminds me that there are many ways of seeing, even when the optical kind doesn’t work.
Also the Muse many of you know as the writer, Anne Lamott. Especially these five words.
Dog love is god love.
This is one of those sentences that works kind of like a mathematical equation. If you replace the is with an = it can be read, at least for me, in either direction.
It’s no secret that I love our herd of Newfoundland rescue dogs. And this week, I have ached with Luther as he moves through the pain of his surgery and healing. I know that, hopefully soon, this process will relieve the pain he had before and prevent more in the future.
He doesn’t know that. He just knows that somebody yelled tilt and nothing feels normal right now.
I’ve cried when he cried and rejoiced when he wagged his tail, and I believe that the Creator of my understanding weeps and celebrates with us, as well.
I also believe that our Creator loves us like Luther and Sarah and Phoebe love us, even when we don’t get it all right.
All of which has helped through the days and long, dark nights when my piece of the red thread has been a bright blue long lead running between Luther and me.
And, there’s a bit more dog love in our family these days. We have a new granddog!
Hazel is a black Lab rescue who appears from the picture to already be busy loving my girls. I can’t wait to meet her!
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