Posts Tagged Pebbles’ New Adventure

Smiling and Laughing: Who Needs Four?

January 16th, 2011 by Elizabeth

“Pebbles New Adventure” has shown  me how we can learn lessons everywhere–especially from someone who has overcome adversity and adjusted so quickly to a huge life change such as Pebbles has. You might be saying, “Yeah, she’s a dog. Animals adapt more quickly than people do.” True, but it makes me wonder exactly why. I think that if I lost a limb, it would perhaps take me weeks and months to recover from such a sense of loss and to learn a different way to live my life. It’s the animal’s ability to be unattached and to be in the moment–that’s what gives them the fortitude and wherewithal to roll with the punches and to just take the changes as they come–even if they are life altering.

Pebbles at times moves faster now on three than she did on four! Her tail wags, her demeanor is as peaceful as ever, and I even think the carrots taste sweeter and juicier . How’s that for a rebound?

Life hasn’t changed at all. It’s still the same as it was before. To Pebbles it’s just a change in gait; a new stance. What a wonderful teacher she is to us all!

Day Two: Single-minded Focus Creates Magic

December 29th, 2010 by Elizabeth

So here we are on just Day Two of Pebbles’ New Adventure. To me it seems like it has been at least two weeks and at times two months. I can only imagine what it feels like to her!

Last night was her first foray outside to “take care of some business”. She resisted the need to go as she cried and barked. Every time we tried to help her up, she just flopped over on her side. Finally, when she just couldn’t take it any longer, she sat up on her own and pushed herself forward and got up enough for me to hoist her with her sling-towel and hold her up for a few steps, much on her own accord.  But I knew that she couldn’t make it all the way out and, unfortunately, Lennie and Monty (my boyfriend and Pebbles’ younger brother) had just gone for their own walk. So I some how picked up my 70 pound girl on my own and rushed outside with her and put her down near her favorite spot. There I witnessed true inspiration: she walked/hopped along, taking her first steps as a tripod with little help from me! It only lasted 4 or 5 hoppy steps, but it was a glorious sight!

She and I together, as we had sat inside the house just before the mad dash, had single minded focus: for her to get herself up and head straight for the door. We held that vision intently and let nothing else in. I know that’s what I did, and I am sure that’s all she could think and see herself.

It was an amazing victory. One that called for a handful of biscuits and a glass of delicious Christmas cordial. Here’s to you, Pebbs!