Teamwork

Juggling managing Dad's care, my own work, my life, and two very active dogs takes a lot of teamwork.  Mostly convincing the pups that really, truly, I will get them outside for long walks!

But they are sensing something special is happening and seem to give me a lot of room...

Labs are amazing.  They understand their role in this team.

Murphy's day.

Trying Everything

Finality

Even though it's done every day by some daughter or son, there is something final, something painfully final, about moving your parent's things out of their home.

Murphy's day

Murphy Redux

Sage grew up under the fine tutelage of Murphy.  Even though Annie's antics are "so very Murphy," Sage really has many of Murphy's mannerisms.  One of them that is endearing to me is Murphy's love of "her car."  Murphy went every where with me, her car really was her second home.  And Sage is just like that.  If she is tired, stressed, or just wants a nap, she'll always head for the car.

If we're ever homeless, we'll be fine!

Murphy's day.

Allergies

I think Sage is allergic to the pollen that gathers on her swimming hole.  It's a small lake (actually a catch basin for stormwater) that we walk by on our evening walks.  Now that I think about it, it may also be the run-off from all the herbicides we put on our lawns...yikes!

But I swear by salmon oil.  I started giving it to her last year when I noticed her skin was red and she was itching a lot and she now gets some on her food every day.  Works like a charm.

Murphy's day.

Evening Walks

My days are busy, filled with moving my parent's life out of their home, visiting my father, talking with his rehab therapists, managing his care, in addition to trying to work, stay healthy, and take care of two frisky dogs.

So my balm, my one saving slivers of time, are the late afternoon now early evening walks with the dogs.  We first go visit Dad, then head to our secret park.  I open the car door and all three of us leap out.  45 minutes of quiet.

That is, until the cell phone rings.

Murphy's day.

Spring

We were so busy moving over the weekend (still quite a bit of work to do) that we didn't even notice the first day of spring.

Well, really we did notice it.  Here in Seattle it reached 70° which is amazing.  But the girls were cooped up inside waiting for me to get home...then they went nuts playing tennis ball.

It's Annie's second spring with us.  She continues to grow, and occasionally  has moments where I can see a bit, a tiny bit of maturity.

But I can tell she is really to rock and roll with the good weather.

Murphy's day.

Long Weekend

Aside from the NCAA bracket nightmare, this has been a really long weekend.  I spent both days moving my father out of his apartment (or, really, my parents).  It was two intense days of living with them.  Heck, I can't even get rid of the milk carton of Murphy's toys....

There are, I feel, few things worse than having to sort through someone else's life.  The invasion of their privacy, the glimpse into their dreams, their nightmares, their joys and sorrows.

My parents were and are elegant, amazing, thoughtful, compassionate people.  This weekend gave me the gift of loving them even more.

Murphy's Day.

March Madness

This is only Annie's second year enduring my passion for college basketball.

Poor girl.  She hasn't heard this much yelling since she got in trouble an hour ago!

Murphy's day.

Emotional Week

Moving parents, much less when one has died, is tough.  It's like a marathon in emotion: opening a cabinet, going through clothes, looking through pictures.  Life seems so fleeting.

Sage came up to me last night and just put her head on my lap.  She knew.

Murphy's day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

If Murphy were still here she would be wearing her green collar and drinking Guiness.  Actually, Riley (my Wheaten Terrier did drink Guiness!).

But Sage and Annie are trying their best to celebrate!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Murphy's day....ah, 'tis the luck of Murphy....

Ok, So When Is Spring?

The girls are anxiously awaiting spring.  Of course, they haven't helped matters, much.  Hmmm, what little lab dug up my bulbs?

But they are convinced when the weather gets better there will be more time outside, romping, rolling, and playing in the mud.

And I wonder how my backyard got to be so muddy?

Murphy's day.

Springing Forward

At least for me there is nothing worse than losing an hour.  I am currently in a frenzy of packing up my parent's home, moving furniture, checking on my Dad, and trying to make sure I make a living, keep my own sanity, and oh, by the way, get the girls fed, walked, exercised.

Losing an hour of an all ready way too busy day is not good.

Murphy's day.

Ya-hoo, It's Friday!

Long week. It's Friday. Ya-hoo!

Murphy's day.

Watching Out for Eachother

Certainly this week I am thinking a lot about family. In watching Sage and Annie I have begun to think like a pack. They are always watching out for one another.

Murphy's day.

Somedays Are Better Than Others

The morning light on the river, the air, the quiet, the beauty.

Somedays are better than others.

Murphy's day.

And the Oscar Goes To...

Annie?

Murphy's day.

Growing Old

We spent a lot of time with my father this weekend. He is in a rehab/nursing facility. My brother and sister-in-law came up to visit. And we all deeply felt the frailty and fragility of his life.

In watching Murphy during her last two years I watched her, every day, becoming more frail and fragile. And, like my father, she felt family. Family was so important to her. And exactly the same thing for my father. He always took care of his family, just as Murphy worried about hers.

This is a hard time for this family. It was a tender, sad, poignant day. We are all growing old. Later yesterday, I went back to see my father, held his hand, and felt strength. I am growing old, too. But not too old to want to hold his hand.

Murphy's day.

Summer is When?

Ah, we are all longing to be outside...

Summer is when?

Murphy's day.

Waiting

Life sometimes gets way too cluttered with "smart phones," iPods, computers. Sometimes it is best to just be quiet and wait. To just be quiet and wait...

Murphy's day.

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

No, not the Orwell Big Brother, my older brother.

Happy Birthday!

Active Pups

Annie is one active pup. She is curious, active, and full of energy. Several days ago when I was visiting my father in the hospital I told him I had to leave and walk the dogs. He barely knows Annie. And somewhat knows Sage, but his real relationships with my dogs came with my first dog, Alex, then Murphy and Riley. He adored them. Alex, an Airedale, had to be groomed, and my father frequently picked her up and took her to the groomer along with my parent's Lhasa. With Murphy and Riley he built a front porch gate so that they could run out the front door without hitting the street.

My father is a dog person.

So when I told him I had to leave to walk the dogs he asked why I didn't bring them to the hospital. I laughed, thinking about Annie leaping on his bed.

Might be a great cure!

Murphy's day.

Magical Living

I am trained as a scientist and lawyer. Both "professions" are drawn to logic and rationality.

But when it comes to decisions by humans or labs about the most serious of matters, like life and death, there are many things that are inexplicable, that defy logic and science.

On the day before Murphy died, she had a marvelous day. Going for a long walk up through fields and the aspen stands. She sat in the sun, absorbing a brisk fall day. She got on my lap, asking for kisses and just to be held. The next day she didn't want to eat and clearly was asking for my help.

I watch my father struggle in that same inexplicable place. He lost the love of his life just three months ago, and even though what has hospitalized him can be "fixed," and he seems engaged when I am with him, he simply doesn't want to take too much nourishment. There seems to be no explanation, other than, I feel, the magic of life.

If only I could walk with him in the fields and through the aspen stand. Sit together in the fading autumn sun, sharing memories of our times at the farm or restoring my house.

I told Murphy that I would always love her. To care for her no matter what. My father told me stories of doing the same thing for me. Holding me through the night as I cried with the measles or telling me the day I came home from the hospital that he would take care of me no matter what. And he has and does.

There are magical times in life. Often they are hard. But in that difficulty, there is love. Always love.

Murphy's day.