May 22, 2016

White Dog came to drag me from where I was hiding out in bed pretending to be asleep. "Come on, dad and Nilla and Storm are making buckwheat pancakes and bacon, join us in celebrating Cocooning in Sanctuary Day. We are all going to stay together and recharge. The White Dog Army and I have some things we want to share that I know will make you happy."

"I don't suppose I could just lie here and feel sorry for myself," I asked already knowing the answer. "Nope, we don't roll that way. New day, new hope, isn't that what you would say?"

I hate when my words come back to bite me so I crawled out of bed and reluctantly got dressed. "Just to prove how bummed I am, I am NOT going to brush my teeth," I stated in my best six-year old defiance. "Well good, be sure to give Opal a big kiss, she has been eating poop!"

Out in the living room there was a vase of sunflowers that had not been there when we went to bed. "Sachi's idea but I had to move them higher because he then wanted to mark them for you." Steve called from the kitchen.

Breakfast was delicious and the late morning light and breezes were very calming. The neighborhood was quiet.

After, YoYoMa moved to the center of the room. "Momma, you always tell me that I am the only one who can always make you laugh. I hate seeing you so sad, so the White Dog Army is going to entertain you."

The "show" opened with Bella and Pearl doing a dance acrobatic routine that had them moving, grooving and leaping all over the room, including over-and-under Zsofia. White Dog, at my shoulder, cheered and said "pretty good, huh?"

Benson recited his favorite poem, "Green Eggs and Ham" completely from memory (we have read it together about 90 million times). "Glad he waited until AFTER breakfast for that," WD opined.

Zsofia emptied the entire toy box at my feet and played a rousing game of "Get It" with me, sometimes getting two different toys at one toss. Then she and Sachi gave a wrestling demonstration.

My mood was lifting; how could I stay locked in a funk when being attacked by all this love? Puff even joined the show by gracefully rising and walking steadily around the room before takng a bow in front of me...no small feat for our Little Old Lady...then she tried to chew my leather bracelet.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Opal casually dragging White Dog's bed from the office. It has become a game she plays to be noticed. Stormer's blanket was piled on top as was a toy. My "Hey!" caused her to grab the stuffed moose riding in the bed and present it to me to play tug. Then she exited by grabbing the corner of the blankie and running with it streaming behind her.

YoYoMa once again took center "stage." "Dad and the assistant chefs are signalling that a special dessert is just about ready. So let me wrap up with a few jokes:

How do you get an elephant into a refrigerator?
Just open the door and stick him in.
How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
First you have to take the elephant out, then you can put the giraffe in.
If all of the animals had a meeting, which one would be missing?
The giraffe, because he's still in the fridge.

Where does a dog park his car?
In a barking lot or a grrrage.

What do you get if you cross a parrot with a centipede?
A walkie-talkie.

When you catch your dog eating a dictionary, what should you do?
Take the words right out of his mouth.

Who Loves you, momma?
We ALL do!"

I was laughing! And then Nilla, Storm and Steve carried in a heart-shaped baked this morning white chocolate cake, fresh raspberries, and freshly whipped cream...."Who wants cake?"

I am the luckiest woman in the world.