January 23, 2017 (repost from January 19, 2017 – system glitch)
The dogs were all sleeping … that is until I opened up the cheese stick I brought to the table and then I had three awake-from-the-dead dogs glued to my side. I am a dog-mother and a dog sitter and along with writing, this is what I’m meant to do. It’s one of those “this is right” things.
A week ago, it was just Gert and I floating around our happy little home. Plenty of dog beds and tidbits a-plenty for her. A day later, I got “the call” as our local rescue had an old lady lab for me … and well, being one of few (or in this case, the ONLY one) who wanted an old lab with issues … we now have dog #2 and Gert has a sister. The geriatric fur factory is once again growing! Our new adoptee is a large, black lab, about 12 years old … a little salt and pepper in her muzzle and weakness in her legs. She was found starving and caked in cow poop in some farmer’s field in south WA. I need to get some weight on her (I’ve never had a problem fattening up a pet!) and get her strength up … but that’ll come with time. For now we are just lazing and loving and getting her used to all this newness. I’ve named her Clara. I wanted an old-fashioned name as I could just picture Gert and Clara, two old spinsters – sitting on some sweet cottage’s wrap around porch in their doggie rocking chairs, knitting and telling stories about days gone by. I think a children’s book is in my future.
And today, Sadie, a sweet and beautiful Golden, joined the ranks. She’ll be an on/off guest for half weeks for the next 3 months. So, I went from one little pug to having three happy tail-waggers in a few days’ time. Life is good and the dog beds are full.
I came home today from errands and the rain was a bit sideways and the winds were whipping through the pines (typical NW winter weather) and as I approached the deck, I noticed that one end of my American flag had been ripped from the pole and it was now hanging upside down. It gave me a chill as an upside down flag is the official sign of a country in distress. On this eve of the inauguration, or as I am calling it – The Eve of Uncertainty – I couldn’t help but wonder if Mom Nature was trying to tell me something.
I’ve watched the movie The American President at least a dozen times. Maybe two dozen. Michael Douglas plays the role of the President of the U.S. running for re-election. (He plays the role so well!) Anyway, in the movie Douglas gives a speech about patriotism and opposition and it makes me reflect on the transfer of power tomorrow … and how we got here.
How on Earth did we go from Obama to Trump? I feel like we got caught in some whirlpool eddy and I have a feeling it’ll take a long time for us to be spit out … hopefully still intact.
“America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship and you’ve got to want it bad cuz it’s going to put up a fight. You say you want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage, advocating at the top of his lungs that which you’ve spent a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this is the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that.”
I love that speech. I wish I knew who wrote that. It’s so real and true. We have free speech in this country. I may really oppose and dislike (enough to have my skin crawl and stomach churn) what our president-elect has said (and will say) … but we live in a country where he has the right to say whatever he wants. It may not be smart. It may cause some problems. But he has the right to say it.
Just as I have the right to say what I want to here.
On this eve of the inauguration of our country’s 45th president, I’ll be sending off an extra prayer for guidance for our president-elect. I think he needs it. I think he will continue to need it. I think he’s in over his head. And I don’t think his billionaire cabinet buddies are going to do this country any good, either.
So, it’s up to us … we, collectively … as in “we the people”. Exercise your right to speak freely. Get educated. Voice your opinions and concerns. Get involved. Send out a prayer to your god or universe asking for direction for our country. I think we need all the help we can get.
As for me … I’m going to watch The American President tonight, one more time. And before bed I’ll read the entire United States Constitution and say aloud the preamble and send that off as my prayer. I hope it somehow is heard.
For now, the dogs are sleeping … metaphorically and literally. But tomorrow things will change … and I think Trump has a whole mess of cheese.