Gracie’s Quarantine Journal
Day…does it really matter??
(sorry today’s post is so long…but I have a lot to process!)
Yesterday was horrific. The stuff nightmares are made of.
It is still hard to think about, but mom always tells the kids that it’s good to talk about their feelings when they are upset. She says it helps to release some of the pain.
So here goes….
Yesterday started like every other day. I had a scrumptious breakfast of salmon and rice kibble—and I even got to lick mom’s cereal bowl when she was done!
I took mom for our morning walk—she didn’t want to go but I can be quite persistent.
Then she and I went to work. It has become obvious that she cannot write without me anymore. And so I laid at her feet where my very presence provides inspiration and productivity.
And that’s when it happened.
The loud bell that notifies us of the presence of a human at the front door reverberated throughout the house. It awakened me from my blissful slumber. I shot to my feet, both excited by the prospect of visitors and determined to let any potential threat know not to mess with this house!
I took my place in front of mom, prepared to launch myself into the arms of the visitor or into the stomach of a potential assailant.
As usual, mom moved me behind her saying something about manners.
Manners!? Doesn’t she understand what it means to protect someone???
Anyway, the trusting woman that she is, she opened the door.
And there, standing on the other side of my door was….the VET!!!!!
How in the name of all that is good and yummy did my doctor manage to come to my house in the middle of a pandemic?? Doesn’t she know that humans are supposed to stay home with their animals right now, where they can be properly protected from hidden dangers??
And not only was the vet standing there, she was wearing a muzzle! A muzzle! How dangerous must a human be to have to wear a muzzle???
I backed up—waaaaayyyyy up!
“Hi Miss Gracie,” she said, her nice voice trying to lure me forward. “You sure are looking good.”
Flattery would get her nowhere.
She stretched out her hand. I turned away.
But then….I caught a whiff of something delicious on the air.
Bacon!
My traitor of a stomach moved my feet forward to investigate. She smelled of bacon. And pancakes. Oh no….
Ok, one little lick and I’m gone!
Too late! Mom grabbed hold of my collar and put my leash on and handed my leash to the vet.
I was captured!….By my own mother!
Dumb bacon smell!
The vet walked me outside. At first I was so confused that I blindly followed. But soon I looked up and saw a giant box on wheels in my driveway. And I knew that’s where we were headed!
Oh no you don’t!
I came to an abrupt stop. I shook my body and wiggled my head. Suddenly I was free of my collar. Free of the leash. And I was running for all I was worth to the back door.
Surely mom couldn’t have realized what she was doing. Surely the vet—this doctor of disguise and deceit—had tricked my poor trusting mama.
I launched myself against the kitchen window. My poor misguided mom was working. She gasped when she saw me—good, she must have realized the error in judgement she made. It’s ok. Just open the door and we will pretend this never happened.
She opened the door. Yes!
Wait….NO!!!
Mom knelt down and held me. She held me until the vet returned!!
What? No! Why???
Mind control.
The vet must be using mind control on my mom.
I looked for an escape. I found none.
Where is the cat? I wondered. He can get out of anything! Here kitty kitty!
“It’s ok girl,” mom said.
Is it?
Is it really!?
“It’s just a check up,” she says as if that makes any difference. “You need your shots to stay healthy. You’re gonna be ok. I’m right here.”
I hear the vet say, “Let’s just do her exam here. I don’t want her to be scared.”
Doesn’t want me to be scared? You should have thought about that before you knocked on my door!
Mom held my head and talked to me while Dr. Don’t-be-scared put a strange tube thing with a circle on the end to my chest, opened my mouth and looked at my teeth, pulled my ears up and then stuck something in m back! How rude!
But with mom holding my head at least I’m wasn’t as scared. I mean, I still hated it, but at least I couldn’t hear my heartbeat in my ears anymore!
Thankfully, the vet stood up and said two of the most beautiful words in the human language, “All done!”
Not taking any chances, I hid behind mom’s legs—totally ok with her being in front of me now.
The vet handed me a treat. I didn’t want to take it. But I did….I’m so weak when it comes to treats.
I watched as she left our house—unsure if I will ever run to the door again!
Mom knelt down.
She called my name and I ran to her.
I can never stay mad at her.
I will never ever understand why she let the vet come to our house, but I guess she had her reasons.
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Anyway, that was my day yesterday.
My advice to you: Be careful opening your doors today!
Oh, and don’t forget to wash your paws!
Always,
Gracie
