This has truly been an “annus horribilis” in terms of the news. In New Orleans we started the year with a deadly domestic terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, then Orleans Parish Prison managed to allow 10 dangerous prisoners to escape, and now we are bracing for an active hurricane season. Israel has responded to the existential threat of Iran’s nuclear potential with a frightening offensive (or “defensive,” depending on your point of view) which has put us all at risk. And was it just me or did Melania look liked she smelled something really bad as she sat stiffly next to Our Fearless Leader at his birthday parade yesterday? Oh, well. Life goes on…
Dolly Parton continues to struggle with loud noises, Josephine in general and even the slightest deviation from her regimen. She appears to find comfort in routine, constancy and animal crackers. Her pack-sisters are giving her a generous margin and lots of side-eye glances but they frequently provide escorts out to the back yard, discreet sniffing and on a singular incredible magnificent occasion, I even saw Dolly lay down next to Zelda in the garage. Of course, that magic moment didn’t last long. I have two well-adjusted dogs and one who has PTSD and some sort of syndrome that makes it almost impossible for her to relax outside her open-door kennel. But she has “bedroom privileges,” and at night she settles on a pallet next to my bed with her stuffed toys, pillows and blankets and her presence is the best soporific ever. Even my rottweiler can’t give me the piece of mind this crazy dog does… if anyone EVER got too close to me I expect she would demonstrate what “resource guarding” really means. This girl is fierce. And she’s got one heartworm treatment under her belt — and she handled that like the tough little survivor she is. My biggest concern for her now is that I’m leaving town for a week at the end of the month and she’s going to have to adjust to the boarding facility. She’s going to miss me. Okay, I’ll miss her, too… maybe I’m the one who has separation anxiety!
