friends | Change Is Hard

February 25, 2014
by dawnkinster 15 Comments

Thanks

Katie here. I told Mama that I needed to borrow her blog so that I could say thank you to all of you out there worried about me, and all of you that sent Mama messages with advice and support during the bad days. Let me tell you this has been so stressful for me! I suppose it’s no fun for Mama either, taking me in and outside all the time, and then carting me around looking for an answer to why I felt so terrible last Thursday night. Most of you saw this on facebook, but this was how I was feeling Thursday night when my Mama rushed me to the emergency vet clinic.

I didn’t feel good.

And I bet you are wondering why I got sick during the evening of a snowstorm when the roads were terrible and the wind was howling and Mama was scared to drive. Well. Let me tell you. I am a princess and a princess does not care about all that when she has a tummy ache. She just lets her minions know…well her Mama know, and off we went to get me some help! My Mama’s good about stuff like that. I guess I’ll keep her.

So anyway…they did all sorts of nasty stuff to me! They took my blood! And they poked me to get urine! GEEZE…just ask me, I’ll pee for you, you know what I mean, but noooooo…and then, then…why it’s too horrible to even tell you! They shaved my tummy! Unthinkable. I noticed my Mama wasn’t even there for that one…I had to sleep at the hospital by myself without her and then in the morning did they let me go home? No they did not! They shaved my tummy!!! And then they put cold goop on it and got the rest of my furs all sticky and matted and they rubbed it around a long time. My Mama says they told her I was very good. I’ll let you in on a secret. I was too terrified to move!

They took a bunch of pictures trying to figure out what was going on with me and they decided it was probably pancreatitis which upset my Mama a lot. But I didn’t care what they called it, cause it gets me this wonderful soft dog food! Out of a can! I could hardly believe it when my Mama gave me some the first day home. It was so good, and she only gave me a little cause I was just home and all, so I asked her for more. In fact I asked her for more about every other minute all night long. She was very appreciative of all the attention. I’m sure.

Saturday my Mama got a call from the vet and guess what? My score for the pancreatitis test was only 40! That means I don’t have it…or so says my regular vet. So I don’t need all that fancy food…but Mama says she’s going to keep feeding me the rest of it…and then she’s going to get a low fat version forever…but she says it won’t be in a can cause cans are a pain in the…well..anyway. I’m going to keep pestering her for the canned stuff though because let me tell you that stuff is gooooood!

I figured Mama would be all happy and stuff but she seemed more worried because now she didn’t know what was up at all. She made another appointment, this time with my own vet and you know what she did today? She put me in the car! Now let me tell you. I went in the car last weekend and ended up at the kennel. Then I came home for one stinking day and I got put in the car again and ended up at the hospital. So I was not too happy about being in the car this morning, and I told her so. Loudly and often. If you shelties know what I mean, and I think you do. We got to the vet and I was shaking so much they could hardly read the scale! (By the way I am a svelte 20.9 pounds, just perfect I think!) Then we went in a room to wait. I know all about waiting for scary stuff so I insisted on sitting on my Mama. Not beside her. On her. And every time she put me on the floor I asked to be picked up. When the vet lady came in I tried to crawl into Mama’s coat. And she was still wearing it.

My lady vet made my Mama feel a lot better. She said not to worry about the gall bladder, there were no stones, and that sometimes dogs like me just get an irritable stomach and it likely wasn’t a mild case of pancreatitis, though it’s possible it was. And she said it wouldn’t hurt to keep me on the low fat diet (hint hint Mama) and you know what else? You know that stupid urinary infection I’ve had for a month? That the emergency vet said was still there? Well the culture came back today and there was nothing there! So after this week Mama can stop giving me those pills. Of course that means I have to go back to the vet to give another urine sample on Monday to make absolutely sure…and while we’re there I guess they’re going to pull more blood and check all that again. But between you and me, I think I’m ALL BETTER!!!

I feel good. I’m a happy camper. Want to see me from when I was at the vet today? Here you go! This was after I got the good news and the lady vet left the room. I wanted to go home!

I’m a happy girl!

So I think that’s the end of my adventure. I’m really sorry all you guys were worried about me. But it made me feel very special and loved. Just think! Most of us have never even met and still we care so much about each other! I know it was all those positive thoughts and paws crossed that got us through this with the least amount of wear, if you call a pink tummy and an empty wallet lack of wear. Mama says she’s going to work on the mats under my fur tonight. I told her we should just rest.

I bet I win.

Love to all of you,

Katie-girl.

Love you guys!

February 1, 2014
by dawnkinster 36 Comments

How you doing Girlfriend?

She wasn’t my BFF. We weren’t childhood friends, I didn’t go to school with her, never ran a race, took a class, or joined a book club with her. I didn’t know all the personal details of her life, never went out for a drink or hung out on weekends with her. But she was a friend. We saw each other in the halls at work, ran into each other in the ladies room. We stood and talked, long conversations about life, family, choices. We picked each other up when we were having a bad day. At the very least we smiled and waved as we scurried about our work. She cared when my parents died. I cared when her marriage was over. She’d greet me with “How you doing Girlfriend?” and a smile. Sometimes I’d tell her how I was doing, sometimes not. But I was always glad she asked.

I wasn’t unique in my relationship with her. She was everyone’s Mom at work. She was where people went for an aspirin or advice. Where people went when they needed a break from the work grind, to talk about her grand-kids and admire their photos on her cubicle wall. To laugh. To commiserate. To recharge. She wore socks decorated with jingle bells during the holidays every year and we all smiled when we heard her walk by; she was the epitome of Christmas spirit, our own Christmas elf.

And when she didn’t feel well this winter we all cared. When she was gone from work awhile we all asked about her. “Not good” I was told when I asked her boss early in January. He was going to see her that weekend so I said I’d write her a note for him to deliver. The next day, giving him the note I heard more; it was more serious than I realized and I knew my note was inappropriate. I rewrote it that night, changed it from a cheery couple of lines to a two page letter telling her how much I enjoyed our conversations, how grateful I was that we were friends, how I would miss hearing those jingle bell socks as she went by during the holidays. I gave her my home phone number and my personal email in case she needed another long conversation.

I never heard from her. She died Thursday night – we heard the news at work Friday morning. Devastated does not begin to describe my sorrow. Our collective sorrow.

She was a little person, probably not five foot tall, with a heart as big as the sky. I can hear her voice in my head, I see her walking the halls at work. I strain to hear those bells. I tried to remember the last time I saw her, talked to her. She used to send me emails about jumbo loans that had to be underwritten in my area but had been sent in error to her department. When it was busy I was never happy to see her emails and we used to kid about her sending me the work. My last email from her was Christmas Eve.

Her: “Happy Holidays. I have just moved 3 files to your new deal
queue… Thanks”

Me: “Thanks. no more gifts now….we don’t deserve them! 🙂 ”

Her: “Oh, but my friend, you DO deserve gifts!! ….the best that ever were 🙂
OK–no more gifts today–just a wish for a blessed, happy Christmas & New
Year.”

Friday as I sat stunned in my cubicle I idly typed her name into email. I know it’s silly but I just wanted to say goodbye. I sat and stared at her name. Remembering. Trying not to cry. Listening to her voice in my head. Then I typed one line…”I’m going to miss you girlfriend.” I paused, then hit the send button. I got an auto reply: “I am out of the office until 3/3/14.”

Somewhere a short little lady is visiting with friends and family that have gone before. Her socks are jingling, her smile is wide, her face glows. Those of us left here are hurting, but were we ever lucky to have had her while we did.

So…you go girl, enjoy your next adventure. I wish it could have been the retirement we talked about, dreamed of. I wish you had had more time here. And I’m hoping this is the biggest, best adventure of all.

But I’m sure going to miss you girlfriend. Yes I am.

December 7, 2013
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Christmas Katie

Katie here. Mama’s been so busy blogging and going to that place she calls ‘job’ that she’s been neglecting me. Again. Lucky thing I have Daddy to take care of me during the day. Cause I don’t think my Mama really cares about me any more.

But you know what? I have a boyfriend! Well, I’ve had him for a lot of years, I think maybe my whole life, but I can’t remember back that far. He (or maybe his Mom) sent me a Christmas present! It took my forever to get my Mama to open it for me!

Open it already Mama!

Then my Mama said because it is Christmas and all I had to pose with my present in the pretty lights. GEEZE Mama! Reilly sent me cookies, I don’t want to pose with them! I want to eat them!

Come ON Mama!

Sometimes the Mama is clueless. So I helped myself.

Smells wonderful!

In all the excitement I forgot to tell you about the beautiful cards Reiley’s Mom sent my Mama! Actually…well…I am more interested in the cookies!

Cards? What cards?

And then we almost missed the big beautiful card in the package, and inside the big card was another gift from my boyfriend Reilly!

From my guy.

Thanks Reilly, for the wonderful collar bling. You guys can’t read what it says…but I bet you can guess! It says “Princess” on it! And it’s in the shape of a heart! Does this mean we’re engaged Reilly? If I’d known we were getting engaged I’d have had my hair done!

You and your Mom are so nice Reilly! I loved my presents! It’s wonderful to know there’s a doggy out there that cares so much about me. Wish we lived closer, I’d give you a smooch…and trust me, I am conservative in my smooch allowance for anyone, but you’re extra special.

Kisses to you Reilly, and to your Mom too!

From your gal Katie.

November 7, 2013
by dawnkinster 9 Comments

Cowspot dog’s Mom

Hi everyone.

I just got an email from Bree, Reilly and Denny’s Mom. She’s back in the hospital because infection has spread from her last surgery. She had emergency surgery yesterday.

We need, as Reilly always says, power of the paw and good thoughts sent to her right now.

Thank you.

October 21, 2013
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

Happy birthday Marathon Betty!

Have you ever run a marathon? Yes, the twenty-six point two miles kind of marathon. Not many people have. You have to be a special kind of crazy to want to do something so painful, and my friend Betty is a very special kind of crazy lady. Sunday she celebrated her 70th birthday by running her 16th full marathon. It was her 53rd birthday when she ran the first one and she says this will be her last. But you never know. Our running group calls her our Energizer Betty; she just keeps going and going.

Before the race.

Another running friend, Jane, and I went down to Detroit early Sunday morning to support Betty, and friends Kim and Kathy in their marathon attempt. Jane made the great sign; one side had the birthday message, the other side was more general, aimed at motivating all the runners as they went by. We used the sign to find Betty and Kim in a massive sea made up of thousands of runners corralled before the race began.

Looking for Betty

Jane also put together a plan for getting us to different places on the course. I figured out she and I walked and/or sprinted over 8 miles as we maneuvered to see our runners before the race, then at miles 9, 19, 23 and the finish line. It was worth it.

If you’ve ever done something so much bigger than yourself, poured yourself into the preparation, done the training, mentally challenged yourself, then you know how adrenalin can push you through the event. But having support on the sidelines makes the experience even better. Jane and I, along with members from Betty and Kim’s family were determined to provide all the support we could.

The start before morning light.

The race began under a full moon. The runners were warmer than we were as we waited at mile 9 in the shadow of the Joe Lewis hockey arena. At first the runners coming by were sparse, but soon enough the street was clogged with athletes.

Happy runners at mile 9

By mile 9 the runners had already crossed the Detroit river on the Ambassador bridge into Canada, run the Canadian riverfront, then come back to the States via the tunnel under the river. Amazingly most of them were still looking good! I was so cold by the time we left mile 9 I was wishing I was running! And let me tell you, that’s pretty darn cold!

Jane and I moved on, to the other side of town, into sunshine as we waited for our friends to come by on their way to run around an island in the middle of the river at mile 19. Jane brought snacks for them, and little Cokes. Both runners were grateful for the liquid caffeine.

Running strong at mile 19!

Jane and I wanted to see them when they came off the island too, we wanted to make sure they were still doing alright. We both know that the hardest miles in a marathon begin after mile 20. So we waited at mile 23. The skies darkened, the wind picked up, the temperature dropped. We were worried that Betty was wearing a tank top and shorts. Jane shed one of her shirts in preparation to give it to Betty if she needed it. We knew they’d be running along the Detroit waterfront for most of the rest of the race and we didn’t want her to be cold.

But this is Betty at mile 23:

She knows she has this one in the bag.

She doesn’t look cold, does she. Sure she was tired and she was hurting and she was wanting it to be done. But she was smiling and she started running again right after this shot.

Inspirational.

That’s why we have nicknamed her our Energizer Betty. We all want to be her when we grow up.

Running to the finish line.

She is amazing. She is strong. She said it was the best birthday, perfect weather for a marathon, her family including husband, daughter, grandchildren, and friends were there to share it with her. Her daughter and a grandson ran her in the last couple of miles.

You can’t get better than that. You can’t ask more of life than that. To do something you love on your 70th birthday and to share it all with people you care about.

I was honored to be there.

Athlete!

October 15, 2013
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

The big adventure

At a rest stop.

Katie here. I just have to tell you about my big adventure. I’d have told you while I was adventuring but I was having too much fun to blog. And then I was so exhausted that I had to sleep. A lot. Mama had to wake me up just to type this. She is wicked that Mama.

So anyway, you know how my Mama is always taking me on adventures? She gets me all excited and then we just go to my park (which I like and all, but it’s hardly an adventure!) or to the store, or worse, we tour the back yard. Well this time when she told me we were going on an adventure she wasn’t kidding around!

We drove and drove for about forty days and forty nights. (OK, it was 4 hours, maybe a little more.) We stopped at 3 rest stops along the way and I liked all the new smells a lot. But still it was a long car ride.

My chariot.

When I was just about to explode and tell her off we were there! Guess what? We went to visit Ricky! Yes, THAT Ricky!

Little Ricky!

And he has a cool fenced in back yard and we got to run through his tunnel and jump over his jumps and everything! (No pictures of that because we were all having too much fun to remember the camera.)

Ricky and I got along just fine. He showed me lots of stuff, like how to do stairs. He has a lot of stairs at his house. I don’t do stairs, unless I have to when Mama isn’t looking. But mostly I don’t have to because, as you all know, I am a princess. So my Mama carries me up and down them because I whine about it. It’s a skill.

Mama! Come get me!

But you know what the best part of the trip was? We went to Ricky’s park. It is sooooo wonderful! It has woods and a ravine and a creek and gardens! There are so many things to look at and sniff I could hardly stand it!

Me and Ricky.

Ricky and I and our Moms spent a long time there and I didn’t complain once about having to walk so far.

Pretty gardens!

And I sat in the back seat of Ricky’s Mom’s car without trying to crawl into my Mama’s lap! See? I can be a good girl.

We sat in the back seat. Together.

Ricky is a good influence on me. He’s also a good friend, and so is his Mom and Dad, cause they let me stay in his house and sleep in his room on his sofa! Well. He might not know I did that, so maybe we won’t tell him.

Our ride home was very long too…and I did not sleep not one bit. OK. maybe a little. But I didn’t put my head down until we were almost home!

Just resting my eyes.

It was a wonderful trip. Next time my Mama tells me we’re going on an adventure I hope it’s as exciting as this one. Though I don’t know how she could top it.

I don’t get my feet wet either. Just saying.

I’m off to take another nap now. Gonna have the best dreams ever!

Thanks Ricky!

October 14, 2013
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Night music

Ceiling

I was lucky this weekend. I got to attend a Columbus Symphony concert on Saturday night. You know how much I love to listen to live symphony music, so it was a treat to visit Columbus, sit in a beautiful venue, and listen to such lovely music.

The program contained three pieces. The first, Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, was written by a relatively young composer, John Estacio, born in 1966. It felt like a lush movie background, perhaps the sound you hear behind one of those motion films seen on giant screens, where you’re in an airplane flying low across the country. At the beginning I could see herds of horses racing across the prairie, the majestic Rocky Mountains touched with snow. I felt the plane dip low into the Grand Canyon, then glide gently across farmland, barns glowing in the sun. Soon I was on the East Coast, swinging through New York’s Central Park, where the frenetic sounds of millions of commuters began to infringe on the calm. The piece ended, for me, in the streets of that city with people and taxis moving together in the crazy race of city life. I know these images are likely not the inspiration the composer used when he wrote this piece, but I thoroughly enjoyed imaging it my way.

Second on the program was Rachaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in C Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op.18. It starts melancholy, contemplative, but my favorite part was the second movement, so sweetly gentle, such a familiar melody. You’d recognize it if you heard, (I linked so you CAN hear) and you’d smile. I smiled.

Ornate

The last piece of the night was also familiar; Brahm’s Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98. I thought my favorite movement of the four was the first. It’s so lush, so full, so familiar. But it turns out my favorite was the third movement with it’s grand entrance, jubilant and exultant moving into a playful dance.

Warming up

I was thinking, on the walk back out to the car, that if everyone could experience an evening like this just once in awhile the world would be a better place. There are so many bad things going on both here at home and across the world. Music like this is like comfort food. In fact I’ll risk calling it comfort music. I could feel the stress flowing out of my neck and shoulders as I sat and absorbed the music into my soul Saturday night.

I wish, truly wish, everyone could experience music live. If you ever get the opportunity attend a symphony concert one evening, even if you don’t think you like this kind of music. Just go. Close your eyes and let your mind float free. See how you feel. See what you imagine. It will expand your mind. It will let you breath.

Comfort music. We could all use a little more of it.

October 7, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Play date!

Peep and me working on some obedience.

Katie here. Some of you have already seen the pictures of my latest adventure. My mama is stepping up her efforts to make sure I have some fun and it’s about time if you ask me. Which you don’t have to ask me, cause I’ll just tell you. She owes me about a gazillion adventures but she says she can only take me on weekends. I personally think she should take me on an adventure every single day, don’t you? Sure she might have to quit her job, but it’s all about me anyway, so that should be no problem!

Hurry up mama!

So anyway, we went to the park that my friend Peep showed me last spring. And guess what? Peep was there! (OK, so my mama and her mom planned it that way.) Peep and I pretty much ignore each other but we get along fine. We’re about the same size and we don’t get in each others face’s and besides it’s not like I have time to play when I’m exploring! Peep feels the same way so it works out.

Pretty trail!

We walked on a trail along the lake. There were big frogs sunning themselves along the bank and they jumped into the lake in front of us. I thought about chasing one of them into the lake, but then I remembered that I got myself all pretty on Friday at the groomer and I didn’t want to get my feet wet.

Staying on the trail

We saw lots of pretty leaves though and had a fun time. I like going to the park with Peep and her mom. I go on new trails and I get to hang out with another cute dog! I’m hoping my mama takes me on another play date with Peep soon!

See ya soon Peep!

August 8, 2013
by dawnkinster 13 Comments

Look what came in the mail!

Katie and I got a box in the mail today. She was very interested. I told her I didn’t think there would be anything from her boyfriend Reilly this time, but she was sure Reilly wouldn’t ship a box to us without something special in it for her. After all…Reilly loves Katie!

What’s in here Mama?

And Katie was (of course) right! Reilly’s Mom shipped us two beautiful portraits of Katie…but Reilly slipped a little present into the box for Katie too. She got some bully sticks! She’s never had any before and she wants to know if she can have one now now now now now now? How about now Mama? I told her she had to wait until I saw what else was in the box. Becuase I had an idea that something very beautiful was in there.

And I was (of course) right! Look at what Reilly’s talented Mom did for us! (Click on the pictures to see more detail.)

Don’t they look just like me?

She does these portraits and donates the proceeds to animal related charities! Isn’t her work gorgeous? You can go check more of it out at her online store. She’s shown a couple of other portraits there that she’s done lately.

Katie thinks they are both very very wonderful.

I could look at these all day!

We think they’re pretty wonderful too! Go check out the blog. She’ll do your pet proud. I can’t promise that Reilly will fall in love with your dog…I think he’s a one girlfriend kind of guy….but you’ll fall in love with the art!

Thank you Bree!

Sending kisses to Reilly!

July 27, 2013
by dawnkinster 12 Comments

Park days

The weather has been wonderful this past week; cooler with high temperatures in the 80’s (21’s C) and less humidity. Katie and I took advantage of that one evening after work and went to her favorite park.

Just sitting with my Mama.

I took my book, thinking I could sit on the hillside and read, and she could explore while on her long line. For a little bit she sat with me. Then she went and stood at the end of her long line, facing the walking trail. She didn’t cry, she didn’t tug. She just stood there and waited. She made me feel bad. After all what is the point of going to the park if you aren’t going to go for a walk?

OK little one.

So we went for a long walk, all the way around. Then because it was beautiful out we took a side trail over to the library and meandered up the library driveway back to another entrance to the park. I figured we’d head back to the car and go home.

Mama…I always have to wait for her.

But as we approached the park entrance we saw a car we recognized enter the park and drive way over to the parking lot. We were quite a ways away but we picked up our pace. Still, by the time we got to the parking lot they were already unloaded and out of sight down the walking path.

So we hustled along and eventually caught up with Maddie, a miniature Australian Shepard and her folks. Katie and I met Maddie when we were all in an agility class together a few years ago. We learned then that we lived in the same town and went to the same park but we hardly ever run into them. It’s been a couple years since we saw them last.

So of course we had to go on the walk with them, all the way around the park again. Katie thought she was in heaven to get to do the walk again! Though she slowed down some near the end. After all she’d already had a long walk.

Maddie is just full of energy, and ran circles around Katie. At one point, though, Katie did a play bow with Maddie and sort of leaped into the play. For a moment. Then she remembered she is a princess and stopped. I think if they saw each other more often and were left to it they might actually play together.

Katie and Maddie

Aren’t they cute? We hope we run into them again this summer!

Evening with Katie

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: friends