Lilly, in her desperate quest for a quiet sanctuary, had stumbled upon the canine equivalent of Sun City. Not only did the neighbors not have children, but they had a pool (which strangely enough seems to intensify dog stink to levels otherwise unheard of). After retrieving Lilly countless times from the other side of the creek, and a few heart-to-heart talks, we agreed that she had made her choice. She ruled the roost once again. Lilly could return to being the completely spoiled-rotten, only child she was before. She even got the front seat back.
I remember being particularly concerned with how the boys would react to my decision. I didn’t want to look like the uncaring Mom who would give up her dog the minute the going got rough. But then again, what would I be teaching them if we kept her here against her will? It was my hope that they would see how much joy she brought to our neighbors lives and know that we did the right thing. In the end I learned once again that kids are tougher than we give them credit for and it was really my conscience I was trying to reassure.
Now half-way through my thirties, I’m still not sure of a whole lot, and some part of me is still desperately hanging on to the flexibility thing, but there are a few things I have gleaned about myself. One: I’m still loyal to Tom. The flavor has changed over the years—from Cinnamint to Spearmint, with fluoride and without—but you can be sure to find that trusty tube of Tom’s on my bathroom counter. Two: I am no longer a dog person. Jaded, I suppose, by Lilly’s abandonment I am now perfectly happy with cats. Given their druthers they are content to eat, sleep, and lick themselves.
Cats don’t roll in road kill, never would they consider eating another animal’s feces, and if they don’t like the kids, so what. Cats don’t need constant reassurance like dogs. Three: I know that all I own will probably never again fit in my car (awful mini-van that it is), but everything that I hold dear could. It’s a seven-seater and since we’ve drawn the line at doubling our numbers, there’s plenty of room for me, the boys, the hubby and of course the two cats—who, thank God, don’t get car sick. Everything else is just stuff. And last but not least, Four: Lilly still loves me. I see her at the neighbors quite often and although I’m more like an aunt these days she hasn’t forgotten our time together. And if the going ever gets too rough here for me as well, my neighbor has offered me a one way trip to Mexico.
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