September 14, 2019

White Dog said, "How could we not love a white-haired person who comes in and sits on the bed with us and loves face kisses?" I had to agree that Judith is pretty special.

We met at the (R)evolution of Steve Jobs opera and talked in the parking lot until  the parking attendants warned us the gates were to be locked. We share food tastes and travel experiences. She and her husband lived in Chicago, my hometown until we moved to Albuquerque. She is witty and upbeat and has a soothing Brit accent and the stature of a pixie. "AND she has white hair," WD reminded.

She has returned to her home in Santa Fe for two weeks after summering in Chicago for her husband's health  to be addressed. He is now well enough that she flew back to check on things here... and because she was homesick.

Steve picked her up at the airport, which is how she came to be sitting on our bed with as many of the White Dog Army who could squeeze up and around her and me. I think Judith loved the attention since Growler, her Jack Russell boy, has spent the summer at her daughter's house and Judith sees him only to visit.

When we first learned she was coming, we fretted about revealing our tiny inner sanctum and the intimacy of such a venue (the pile of things without another home; the dogs' sleeping kennels; the dresser full of pills and lotions). Steve moved things out of the way to create a space that held a chair and folding table...the chair HE ended up using. It was worry wasted.

Judith came into the house and asked Zso to lead her to me and followed into the sleeping quarters; she tossed her backpack and her cane across the chair and plopped down next to me on the mattress before giving me a hug. Zsofia looked startled and then jumped up to join us...

...followed by Bailey, Bella, and briefly until space became and issue, Opal. The others crowded into the room and blizzarded around our legs. We laughed at Judith's black slacks.

Two hours of laughter, love, conversation and WD nuzzles was a balm for both of us whose year has been WAY to focused on matters of health. I do not think either of us realized how much needed a break.

Of course, we noshed. And drank tea. Too soon it was time for Steve to drive her home...but not before extracting a promise that we would see her again before she went back to Chicago where Richard's followup will keep them until after the new year.