TEMP HOMES

We always expect things to continue on as they have. People and things we care about last forever. We are most of us, by nature, stability-seeking creatures. Both enthusiasts and victims of the status quo. We want a thrill now and then, but as a steady diet the majority of us will pass that up.
We are no different. We never really expect our dogs to die, or parents, or....homes. When my first Belgian was diagnosed with cancer he was 8. I half-jokingly told Doc "You just get them trained the way you want and then they die." (He didn't-- he lived another 2 years).

The same might be said for homes. You just get them broken in, and then they break. At least ours did. Due to some inclement weather

 and an inexperienced roofer-helper, we had a disastrous and very personal encounter with Mother Nature--INSIDE. Rain poured through the inadequately tarped roof-- a roof of nothing but boards. Rain poured into the house. Soaking ceilings, walls, floors, artwork, clothing, dogs (we got them out right away) and us. By mid-day the living room ceiling was pulled down for safety. We had to get out. Luckily we have insurance and they found us a place to put our heads while we have work done on the house. And I bailed Cooper out of Camp Chez Doc Coyne and he stays at the motel with us, unless we both are at the house working, which we will be today, and then he goes back to the kennel for the day.

But Cooper must now be walked rather than just sent out into the yard to play. He cannot go far-- doesn't even want to. He pauses often. He sleeps a lot in the room. He isn't terribly interested in the maids. He has always been well- behaved in motels. Now he is especially quiet. On our walks, we go past a little, filthy dirty pond. And guess what! It is DUCKLING season!

                                                        A Saving Grace