Cindi, our dog, has convinced me that souls do talk to each other and/or destinies are pre-determined.
At the very least, there are signals laid out for us if we observe with care.
Gifts and options are spread before us along the way.
We have free will and can choose to recognize and explore them or we can close up our hearts, ignoring our power and discarding opportunities that could have been beneficial to us.
Wonder is Wisdom – Socrates
My pen feels smooth, effortless with deep and bold color. Cindi and I repose alongside each other. The treehouse is quiet inside but I hear wind chimes on the balcony. She is my precious, adorable therapy dog. I wonder how we got so lucky. Two souls meet in the ether and know they belong together. That’s how it was for us.
My daughter comes to visit and is in town. We make plans for the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. I have never been. The day before and unbeknownst to me, M takes a roll of film he found in his car out of nowhere and gets it developed. It’s a series of photographs my daughter shot when she went to the same exact museum with her Art History class in High School. Coinquidink? I think not. I wonder how we don’t connect the dots more often? I wonder what else am I missing because I am too worried, too caught up in the daily grind or too blind to see?
“There is only one cause of unhappiness;
the false beliefs you have in your head,
beliefs so widespread, so commonly held,
that it never occurs to you to question them.”
Anthony de Mello
I often imagine myself in Oregon or some other colder, greener, gloomier state. I wonder how different life would have been if we had settled there back in 1993. I wonder why I love it when the weather is dark and grey. Why do I love the soft drizzle of raindrops?
You know there’s power in wondering, pondering, contemplation, right?
If I didn’t wonder I would miss the power in all of these details that make a life wonderful.
You gotta have a dream.
If you don’t have a dream,
how you gonna make a dream come true?
Oscar Hammerstein II
I walked through the balcony door threshold and then I blankly looked straight ahead and wondered why I was there. I am in my pjs. I am wearing thick, ivory bed socks. My pajama top looks like a black dress with a scoop neck and the fabric is divinely soft. Anyway, I turn back and look at Cindi and then decide to go back into the treehouse and close the screen door behind me.
Oh well, I ‘ll remember when it’s important enough and it pops back into my head and I will just fetch whatever it was then.
Cindi looks at me like she’s asking, “Are you coming or going, lady?” also “Will there be treats involved?” and with an urgent look of hope, “Is that why you walked back in? To get me a treat?”
She stares at me as I sit back down on the loveseat and plops her chin down on her Ducks blanket, resigned to my indecisiveness.
To my son, 
Happy Father’s Day, Love Henri and granddogma
and to my husband,
Happy Father’s Day, Love Cindi and Cecilia
To all the dads – the ones not here but whom still remain in our hearts and the ones still struggling with little ones, Happy Father’s Day!
None of us would be moms without the dads.
Love, Cecilia
My husband is hilarious and ordered a small bonnet and bib and of course my daughters had to try it out on our furry family members. Please read the quote underneath the last picture.
In order of appearances:
Cindi – Adelaide – Nightlight – Cappuccina
As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears. Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them forget, at least momentarily, the unpleasantness in their lives. And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper: ”When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.” A Clown’s Prayer
Our dog, Cindi, barked at everyone who passed by when we were leisurely sitting on our saltillo tiled hotel patio in Avila Beach last summer. She is so territorial. I kind of like that about her actually because it gives me a false sense of security. I think she’s a lookout for me. I erroneously believe she would protect me and bite off someone’s leg if they came near me to harm me but all they would have to do is offer her a treat or a piece of meat and she would be putty in their hands.
Plus, she only weighs fifteen pounds.
Today would have been Cindi’s kill date. She was to be put down today at the shelter and instead we won the lottery and adopted her on the 17th, thirteen days ago. Who rescues who when you save a life?
I have been kinder to the cats because of Cindi’s love and adoration. The warmth and joy this little doggie gives us is spreading itself everywhere and all over. I have become mushy but I have become more responsible too. She has unlocked another door in my heart I never knew was shut. It’s as if a window to my soul has been opened and the sun is shining in. Unconditional love and devotion reigns.
She is precious and I dote on her. She follows me everywhere and just wants to please. She has a mind of her own and instincts but is easily manageable because of her size and disposition. She allows the cats to come right up to her nose and sniff her without barking or chasing them. She obeys, she is trained and I feel like I won a prize. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want such a behaved little dog like Cindi.
She is a happy camper and smart. When I come into the house or into the room she wags her tail and jumps around and has a regular ‘welcome home’ party for me – all that is missing is the banner and the party hats. She wants to socialize with most every dog and person. Ninety percent of her awake time is spent wagging her tail with frisky expectation.
She sleeps all night except for her grooming intervals. Last night, I heard her snore. Sometimes I hear her whimper in her sleep while she is dreaming. Mostly, she is still and quiet and contented snuggled in a corner of her crate curled into herself and surrounded below and around by a cushy, plush throw. I check to make sure she is breathing just like an infant. “Oh no.” Yup.
Wherever I place a blanket down, she is there to lay down upon it and watch me type, or read, or cook dinner or do laundry or fold or watch TV.
Her pure delighted gratitude full of instant glee – when we go on walks, when we lay on our backs on the grass together looking up at the sky or when I give her a well deserved massage at night with lavender scented hands – is time well spent and rehabilitates, eases and renews my mind. She soothes and heals my soul.
Who liberated whom? We were made for each other and this was meant to be. I am grateful to my friend J, the dog rescuer for giving me the heads up on this rescue and my loving husband for giving me the thumbs up on this family addition.
Happiness is writing with your pets by your side.