2 Old Dogs

Tuesday is Maggie's birthday. She will be 12 years old. I'm posting this today, because my daughter is moving tomorrow, and I will be without an internet connection for a couple of days.

12 is not an easy age for a dog. Over the past year I've seen her slow down some. Walks take longer, hills are harder. We both agree. We aren't as young as we used to be. According to one way of calculating 'dog years', Maggie and I are pretty close in age.

I think animals and people have some similar experiences when it comes to aging. This week I have been helping my daughter get her new home ready to move in. After a few days of stooping, and standing, lifting and carrying, I began each day with Advil. Every part of me hurt. Sitting was painful... and I would have welcomed a crane to hoist me back up. Advil didn't make a dent.

Maggie knows how I feel. When she wants to lay down, I watch as Maggie slowly positions her hind legs and then lowers herself to the ground. When it is time to stand up she angles her hips, and then slowly hoists herself up. She starts her day with Bufferin in a "Greenie Pill Pocket". I'm not sure it helps her much either.

She spends a lot of her day sleeping. I don't sleep as much, but she sure does make it look fun.

There is another side to aging. No matter how old we get, in our heads we are still spring chickens. I see that similarity between us as well. When it is time to hit the sidewalk for a walk we start out with a spring in our step even if our tail is dragging on the way home. (1/2 mile later.)

Tonight we had pizza for dinner. Even though her birthday is 2 days away, we decided to celebrate early. Anyone who knows Maggie knows Pizza is one of her very favorite foods. (See  Elephants and Old Dogs Never Forget, Sept. 10, 2010  http://viewfromanemptynest-connie.blogspot.com/2010/09/elephants-and-old-dogs-never-forget.html )


Pizza arrives!

Something smells good!

Waiting Patiently while we sang Happy Birthday.

After we sang Happy Birthday I cut it into pieces and added it to her dinner in her bowl. She never touched her dinner, but ate the pizza and then stared at the rest of us waiting for our crusts. Such a greedy girl!

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

The Art of Language

Today my grandson and I took a walk to the park for a picnic lunch and to play. As we walked along he kept up a steady chatter. It didn't stop at lunch, or after lunch as he played on the playground. It got me thinking, and I made a rather random observation.

Whether learning to talk, or learning a new language, the process is pretty much the same.

My cousin is trying to learn Spanish. In her New Year's Resolution she resolved to practice 1 hour a day. When I was in high school, learning French Ms. Polsky made us speak only in French from the time we walked into class until we left ...even when we had no idea how to say what we wanted to say.


3 and 4 year-olds don't have that problem. Even if they don't know how to say it, they'll say it anyway. A 4-year-old can talk you into the ground. They repeat everything you say. They ask "How?" and "Why?" even when the word doesn't fit. They say I HAVE to do.... instead of I want to do.... which in turn sends parents into the proverbial "Excuse me, WHO is the boss? You don't HAVE to do.....! "

As a parent I was way too weary to try to comprehend why an young child can't just be quiet. But as a grandparent I have the luxury of age, experience, time (and therefore, patience) to think about such things. I think I've got it.

Kids are learning a language. That's it. It's that simple. When you learn a language you need to use it as much as you can. Even if it drives everyone around you to distraction. Practice really does make perfect whether you are 4 or 40.

My cousin may only practice 1 hour a day. Not so with children ...they practice it for 12 hours, or until you manage to snuggle them into bed!

They repeat what you say, rolling the words around, hearing the order, working on comprehending the idioms, grasping the meaning, repeating EVERYTHING in order to embed it in their brain. It is the best way to 'practice your Spanish'... so to speak.

Does that make it any less exhausting to listen to? No. But it does help me better understand why children can't be quiet.

Zachary

2 Hands, 2 Feet, 10 Fingers and Toes! A sweet little mouth and adorable nose. He murmurs. He coos. He's such a sound sleeper. The image of perfection. It's Zachary Wheeler.

We've done it again! We have added grandchild #4 to the family. Zachary is the biggest cuddler I've ever met.

When I first saw Zachary, all I said was "He's a baby Nicholas!" He looks so much like his older brother...except for one thing. I think Nicholas was born with his eyes wide open. (And it is still hard to get him to close them when it is bedtime.) Zachary is a quieter copy of his big brother.

Those first few days it was obvious he thought this world was way too bright, much more so than where he spent the last 9 months! He squinted, he frowned, he scowled, and he kept his eyes closed. As soon as anyone picked him up he fell asleep in their arms.

He can make anyone feel like the most protective person in the world. Nicholas actually sat for over an hour holding Zachary on his first day home. No TV. Nothing going on. Just Nicholas on the couch with his baby brother in his arms. Not moving. Sitting very still. And protective. Nicholas is a devoted big brother. And so far he seems to have little problem sharing Zachary with his mom and dad. (Phew! Always glad to get past the jealousy hurdle!) Of course, every parent knows there will be moments.... but they are off to a good start.

Zachary is changing already. Looking bigger, and not so 'brand new'. He has unfolded and stretches out, nice and relaxed and checking out his world. Zachary has decided if he is going to stay, he might as well look around and take in his surroundings. He is beginning to be awake more often. I can see him start to focus and look at objects, lights, and faces. And he listens to sounds. Some will make him open his eyes, or look towards a sound. He may just raise his eyebrows. But he hears them. He doesn't startle easily.

Each infant comes with its own personality. As a grandparent it is so much fun watching them develop. I've learned (from being a parent) that half of who a child becomes is influenced by their parents. The other half is who they inately are. It is how those 2 parts interact that will ultimately determine who he will become. I've gotten to know my first 2 grandsons, and I love what I see. They are works in progress, as different as night and day, but still have lots of fun together. Samantha is obviously Warren's sister, and at 18 months gives us clues as to what kind of little girl she will be. Now it is Zachary's turn. His genes are set. He is who he will be. Today he is a needy infant, totally dependent on the adults in his life. Over time we will get to know who he is.

I'll be on the sidelines watching.

Day at the Park

Tuesday night I was enjoying a quiet evening of TV with my daughter and her family. It was especially exciting when Dave put on one of his favorite new shows of the year;" The Walking Dead". The title says is all. UGH! Jen wisely went for her shower. Maggie and I remained in the family room. I tried to read through it. Maggie began to talk to me.

Growlllll, grr, grrrrrrr!!!!!, owooolllll, grr.
Her vocabulary is limited but she puts lots of expression into it.

Unfortunately for her, after 12 years, I still don't speak DOG.
However,  I understood part of her message. "I am bored. Take me for a walk!!!!!!!!!!"
A couple of rainy days had kept us inside.

This morning Nicholas and I headed out for a bike ride/walk to the park.  I decided not to encumber myself with a camera. Dog and boy on bike would be sufficient entertainment. I was wrong.

As soon as we got to the park the first thing I saw was 2 Sandhill Cranes. Where's my camera? AT HOME!!! 

Sandhill Cranes are residents in this area. They are stately, regal birds that move slowly. They are year-round residents in Florida and are hesitant to relocate from their territory. As land is developed, they don't move on. They stay. This can put them at risk from traffic and pets and in some cases they can be aggressive. However, I've never seen their aggresive nature and for us it is a treat to watch them. They are beautiful. The only pictures I have of  them were taken on a foggy morning a couple of years ago, from my car window, as I was leaving Florida. (And those pictures are on my home computer of course.)  Thanks to Google, here is a photo of this gorgeous bird.

It was a beautiful day. Nicholas rolled his cars down the slides, and then rocketed them back up.

 Maggie enjoyed fresh air time in the shade and I angled for a little sun on my legs. (time to get rid of a little of that "winter white" we 'northerners' have.)

The mockingbirds sang non-stop through their entire repertoire, and then hit repeat. They serenaded us the entire time we were there. The trees were just about to burst into bloom, giving each branch a 'crested crane' kind of look.

Overhead falcons and hawks soared. At one point there were more than I could count. Some soared so high they were hard to see, while others ran shadows over me as I sat. At one point they were close enough I could identify different characteristics, but where was my bird book and my binoculars? AT HOME!!!!

Fresh air and grass for Maggie, Nature for Me, a Playground for Nicholas.
That is a perfect day at the park. But the next time I am going to be better prepared!