The Transition Times

I’ve been telling everyone that I have the opportunity to reinvent myself.  Over the last three years, I have removed myself from all of the activities I was involved in so I could focus on caring for Lew.  So, now I find myself without any responsibilities.  Time to rethink my future.

So, yesterday, I had one of those days.  Errie was coming to stay with us and I heard from someone I hadn’t in quite a while.  I spent a long time wondering if yesterday was the first day of my new life.  I’m considering doing “boarding and training” with a specialization in Service Dog tasks.  Errie is helping me understand some of the obstacles I would be facing and helping me define the kind of training I would do.

Errie is a 9 year old Caviler King Charles Spaniel.  She’s well behaved and very, very bright.  In just a few hours, she was using the dog door without any assistance.  It didn’t take her much time at all to discover that she is long enough to reach the top of my lowered kitchen counters.  My only problem with her, she likes to lie down behind my wheels.  Getting her to move again can be a challenge.

We went for a ride to the grocery store this morning.  Her first time in my van.  She had some confusion over the missing front seat and tried to get into the driver’s seat.  Fortunately the steering wheel was in her way.  Finally, I managed to get a hold on her and boosted her up onto the back seat.  Seat belted in, she got all excited when I opened her window (glad for the seat belt).  Benny was fine with sharing his seat.

Nope, they haven’t been romping and playing.  They are just existing in the same space.  Nope, no conflicts.  Even at dinner time.  Well, okay, I sit on the floor between them while they eat.  Benny won’t go near Errie while she’s eating, but she doesn’t seem to care that Benny is twice her size.  I expect they will enjoy each other a bit more in a few days.  Errie is still trying to talk me into taking her home.

And, the email . . . Well . . . I’m giving serious consideration to serving on the board of a well respected Service Dog organization.

But that was yesterday.

So, today rolls around.  And I turn around.  I’m sitting here working on updating my web site, updating info for the upcoming bike ride, and proofreading a publication for another organization.  Didn’t I just say that I had shed all my responsibilities?

I’m gearing up for the bike ride. (This is my 24th bike ride!)  One of the HAMs helped me wire in my radio and antenna for my van this weekend.  Its almost totally cool.  I don’t think the radio can be seen from the outside.  Except for the microphone.  I’ve got most of the wiring hidden, but I haven’t figured out how to hide the mic while still having it within easy reach.  Humm . . .  Yeah, I know the antenna is quite visible.  But thieves don’t seem to break into vehicles based on an antenna.  They look inside to see what’s worth stealing.

So, all this stuff is competing for run-time in my head.  Benny, Errie, my new career, new volunteer responsibilities, current activities, home repairs . . .

Oh, and a P.S. — Thanks to Ben for his words of wisdom.  Lew’s journal went out with the trash the next day, unread.