Table Scraps: Giving Thanks

Coconut and Kitty, not posing for a picture.

Can you believe it’s Thanksgiving next week? (Sidenote - my friends at Healthy Paws always have good content about what you can share and what you cannot for the holiday; check out their infographic) I was just wondering what happened to summer… what happened to fall? I mean, I get that fall actually ends December 21st, but it’s all going too fast! And without one single break from the stress of COVID.

Speaking of COVID (who isn’t speaking about COVID btw), this week found me singing the word “Garbanzo” to Kitty, over and over. Pronounced like this: “gar-BAIN-zooooo!” Yeah, I realize that’s nuts. That’s where we’re at now, right? Complete lunacy? Cabin fever, stir-crazy, singing-nonsense-to-our-pets lunacy?

So let’s get to what I’ve been reading. Did you know it’s crucial for your dog to stop and smell the roses? They are less likely to be depressed and it gives them little brain exercises. So don’t rush those walks! If you need to “just not” with the news, please enjoy this very good-bad boy. If you want dog-friendly news, focus on the fact that the first rescue dog will be arriving in the White House in January! An artist I adore, Lili Chen, had created a wonderful career memorializing her Boston terrier in illustrations, and unfortunately, he passed away last month. I’d like to close with her words:

To me Boogie was a real, living, breathing, thinking, feeling dog - a “little person” who was my best friend and longest significant relationship. He brought me equal amounts of trouble and joy, but ultimately, deep smiles, inspiration, warmth, support, and confidence in myself as a human being. He also gave my life structure and routine - all of which is now gone. If you have ever loved a dog this much, and given so much of yourself to taking care of a senior dog whom you then had to euthanize, you will understand how painful and disorientating this loss feels.

People say that dogs give us unconditional love - this is why we grieve them so much. This is not why I miss Boogie. I miss him because he was totally “conditional”. Boogie had opinions and preferences. He knew what he liked and disliked and he communicated to me very clearly and honestly. Even when I had no idea what he wanted, he adapted to my stupidity. Boogie chose ME to be his person, putting up with me for stuff he didn’t put up with when it came to other people. This was his love, and I miss him for all of it.

Remember to thank the Boogies in your lives, and I wish you health and happiness this month.

MPCC xx