rendezvous

Trying to decide on what to write about has not been an easy task.  Should I pick a steady niche topic  or just write a day to day running account of life? Maybe a combination of both? Yeah, I think that might work.  I was leaning toward writing about health issues and food as medicine because the topic is on my mind everyday.  I am in a place in my life where I need to regain control of my body and my health and begin to focus a bit more on me and put “me” back on the list of things to do.  I am a busy mom with a house full of males !  My husband Bill (47), my only son Billy (21) and my two foster sons - David (13) and Robert (10). The testosterone overload is palpable sometimes.  So much so,  that last summer I wanted a puppy and insisted that it be a female and a Golden Retriever since I always wanted that breed for as long as I can remember.  Her name would be Bailey.   She has made a huge difference in my life. 

 Bailey is a beautiful Golden Retriever and she was worth waiting for.  It took about 8 months to find her though.  We first went to the local animal shelters but Goldens who find their way there don’t stay long as they are a very popular breed and wonderful family pet so they get scooped up quickly.  My next step was to use the internet and I looked up a Golden Retriever Rescue group and filled out the lengthy application and paid the fee of $25.  They even came to our home and did a home and yard inspection and an at-length interview.   One would think we were adopting a child.  There were several dogs with photos and profiles on the rescue website that I had my heart set on and could not wait to get the okay to come and meet in person.  Most of them were beautiful older dogs. I didn’t care anymore whether I got a puppy or an older dog, a male or a female, they all stole my heart!  Then rejection !  “We’re sorry but you cannot adopt one of our dogs because it says here on your application that someone in the house has asthma.” What??!  Yes, we have asthma but are not allergic to dogs.  It’s more of a seasonal weather-related problem or cigarette smoke or respiratory infection kind of asthma.  It didn’t matter.  In their experience, people with asthma have returned the dogs due to health problems so that is the firm policy. 

 OK, I accepted it - sort of.   I applied to a second Golden Retriever Rescue group, went through the same process, paid the fee and again mentioned the asthma but made a point to explain in more detail.  So much for being honest.  Rejection again ! Fee refunded again!  I could have lied on the application but I just actually couldn’t.  That’s just not me.  So, by then I really, really wanted a Golden Retriever and was determined to get one, no matter what.  How dare they say no to me when I am being honest and so ready to give a poor homeless dog a great home.  I just didn’t get it.  Yet, I did get it and I do respect that the rescue groups screen carefully and want to make sure the dogs are placed securely so they don’t have to go through the trauma of being moved again.  I guess I just took the rejection personally and had my feelings hurt but I’m a big girl so I just decided to go to Plan B.

 Back to the internet to search the local shelters.  I went to www.petfinder.com to search for my pooch.  I was going to find her and the wait didn’t matter anymore.  I searched for months but to no avail.  I had almost settled on several different dogs that were a variety of breeds.  There were so many beautiful, soulful faces just begging to be taken home.  By now I had doggie fever ! Over those months I had aquired all the toys, bedding, leashes, supplies and more.  Everything but the dog. Any dog would do now, I thought. Then one day last July I found another website that had a “Pets” classified section. www.kijiji.com .  Browsing all the way back to the June listings I saw it - the ad with 4 blurry pictures for a purebred female Golden Retriever AKC puppy who was at the time of the ad, 4 months old.  Did I read that right?  It was as if I’d written the ad myself!  I thought there was no way on God’s green earth that she had not been scooped up yet.  It was the end of July and she would be 6 months old now.  My heart was beating faster and I was praying in ernest as I sent the email to inquire about the pup.  How much is that doggie in the window?  My phone rang 5 minutes later and I was just amazed that the dog was still for sale !  I was even more amazed that my phone rang that quickly. 

Why are you selling this gorgeous dog I asked her.  Apparently Karen was a young, single,  twenty-something that worked long hours and felt too much guilt for having to crate the puppy all day.  Karen said she also never realized what a great responsibility and expense being a dog owner was.  Lesson learned.  She wanted her dog, named Dakota, to go to a family that had kids. That was her only stipulation.  We had kids!! Yeah!  We were going to meet Dakota two days later.  Yes, there were tears.  I couldn’t help it.  I was excited and relieved that my search for Bailey was over.  I could hardly wait to touch her.

As we all waited in the parking lot meeting place my husband let out an, “Oh my God, that dog is gorgeous!” as Karen pulled up behind us.  Bill could see 6 month old Bailey in his rearview mirror before we did.  And gorgeous she was.  A beautuful red Golden Retriever.  I couldn’t tell that she was red in the photos.  What a wonderful  surprise.  How lucky we were to find such a great responsible owner like Karen.  The dog’s shots were up to date, we received all the veterinarian  records.  She gave us a box full of supplies, toys and food and her AKC papers.  She had aquired the dog from a reputable breeder and she accepted $500 instead of the $600 she had listed in the ad.  I felt so blessed that my dream - my exact dream - came true.  I wished for and visualized exactly what I wanted and patience as well as persistence surely paid off.  Bailey has been the best dog I ever owned.  Aside from her physical beauty, she is a good, gentle, affectionate dog.  She is close to perfect.  We all love her so much and she loves each of us.  I’m sure that Bailey will be a consistent part of my blogging experience as she is close to my heart and by my side always.  When I am at the computer - like right now -  she is just beneath my chair. 

My final words… don’t give up on a dream no matter what it is.  If you can conceive it you can achieve it but you must first believe it!  Dreams do come true!

Well, I didn’t expect that I could come up with a first post but there it is.  One thing led to another and voile - a  story !  I did it!  More to come ….

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