With all of the recent rain, this morning was calm, cool and pleasant. As I took my time to wake up and think about the day, the Newfs slept. When I got up, Parker raised his head. I put on some soft fleece comfort pants, along with socks and rubber clogs to take the dogs outside. The morning was so fresh and cool that as I left the Newfs to take care of their business, I left the door open and returned to the kitchen. As I was busily in the process of making breakfast, I realized that they hadn’t yet returned. This was unusual, since Parker likes to stay within reach, whether it is within my reach or his I don’t know. And given that breakfast was underway, it was particularly unusual to not see him nearby.
I walked back to the door to look for the Newfs, but didn’t need to look far. They were lying side-by-side under the Maple tree surveying the front lawn and the road. As Parker had begun to age, I had assumed that his hearing loss was an age-related neurological change. He had always enjoyed the time that we spent sitting at the swing or on the front steps and listening to the light whoosh of the cars passing on the road. Last year, when I realized that his hearing, not just his selective hearing, was diminishing, it was saddening to know that he couldn’t enjoy this any longer. He would lie down near me at the swing but not notice when the cars passed. Yet, this morning, there he was, lying side-by-side with Jade and listening to that light mystical whoosh. There was another faulty assumption, rooted in an incorrect expectation about his condition, and more evidence that the dermatologist’s diagnosis had been correct: a chronic ear infection. This morning, he would raise his head, perk his ears and enjoy the passing of the cars, along with the happy sounds of spring.
I made a cup of coffee and went out to sit with them. A Robin and a Mockingbird were having a scuffle in the corner Maple tree. A pair of Cardinals took an interest in us, as Cardinals are often very curious, if not simply nosy. The Cardinals hopped to lower branches, as close as they dared, to get a good look at the creatures taking up space on their lawn.
Another car lightly whooshed past, then Parker laid his head down to take a nap. Within moments, the realization surfaced that he was surrounded by fresh grass, and he began chewing on some tender, delectable blades of new growth. Jade stretched out, enjoying the soft, cool comfortableness of the grass and earth beneath her. I thought about the passage that reads, “God gives richly all things to enjoy”, and we were enjoying our blessings, perhaps me most of all.
Greg will be back later this afternoon . . . Oh, yes! It’s Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to all. Thank you Parker and Jade for a lovely morning that once again put all priorities into perspective.
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