On The Mound

While I ponder what to write for Jolynn's update,  I want to relate a little story from yesterday.  I visited the farm house yesterday to pick up the neglected mail, pick up branches that littered the driveway and the 2 acre property and do a basic well-check visit on a home that isn't getting a lot of attention lately.   Our two dogs, Rosie and Bear, leaped out of the car as usual and immediately and happily scattered hither.  They love their yard.  For now, it IS their yard but down the road, it will be on the chopping block, sitting on numerous real estate sites hopefully sometime this Spring.  

Pondering an imminent sale of a place we've owned for 4 years now, I started walking toward the grape vines, gently petting the new, soft leaves on my rose bushes as I passed by them.  I instinctively headed toward the back of the property while talking to Rosie and Bear who were scampering in front and around me as I walked through the tall, wet grass.  As I got closer to the spot where our beloved Chipper is buried, I started to greet him, as I usually do.
        
                     "Hi Chip.  We're here to visit you.  We still love you Chipper.  We miss you Chip." 

Rosie, our Golden Doodle who simply ADORED Chipper, (our long haired Dachshund who transcended loyalty for 17 years), stopped walking when she heard me say his name.  Rosie's big, yellow, happy head jerked around to look at me with her huge brown eyes.  I had stopped walking and stood under the pear tree, looking at the place where Chipper is buried in a blanket in his soft bed, deep under the topsoil.  I was thinking about what kind of memorial statue we will get for this little hill of dirt.  At that moment, Rosie walked over and stood on the mound with her front paws.  Her exuberance ended for about 10 seconds as she stood there,  front feet planted on the earth, staring straight ahead, quiet, thoughtful, remembering, giving a moment of respect for her beloved compadre who passed a year ago.   Then, she ran off to join Bear over by the plum tree.  

The light sprinkle of rain joined the tears on my cheek as I finished my walk around the perimeter and prepared to head back home to Jolynn.


The Jolynn Update:

   Still exhausted and struggling to take her handful of pills without spitting them back up.  She never did like the process of taking pills.  Crackers soothe her but they won't add the necessary weight back on.  She is worried about the 3 pounds she lost since last week's hospital stay but food isn't tasty right now.  She faithfully takes her temperature several times a day.  The baby monitor that is set up for me to know how she's doing in the middle of the night did wake me last night when she got up to eat some crackers at 3am.  Aside from slight nausea, her biggest concern today (raised by her son today) is about keeping safe from the Coronavirus - CoVid 19.  Calls to OHSU should let us know what to expect and watch out for as we anticipate Eli's visit this week.  

In the meantime at home, note to self, I am not encouraging Jo to eat or get out of bed (as the medical staff suggested I do) until or if she is ready to hear my suggestions.  There's a reason why I didn't follow my dad's big idea that I become a nurse.  It's not my forte.  
I'm pinch hitting here.....

Pictures of Chipper, Rosie & Jolynn and Bear: