The
heat and humidity of the past week have certainly, but
unsurprisingly, had a detrimental effect on my relative state of
well-being. Even before the hottest day arrived, I was already
suffering payback, for over-exertion, in my desire to optimize the
length of time & distance spent walking our gorgeous dog Piper.
Already
impaired by that payback I'm somewhat flummoxed when trying to
determine how much of my current ailments, tenderness of lymph nodes
(both axillary and cervical), aching bones feeling somewhat as if
they've been hollowed out and lined with lead and undergoing extreme
gravitational tugs of war, are a continuation of the earlier payback
and how much solely a response to climatic conditions.
I've
reluctantly had to resort to supports applied to wrist, elbow, knee,
ankle, and even tubular bandages covering most of my arm. I don't
know whether this use of tubular bandage serves as some kind of
lymphatic massage but, it certainly helps. Unfortunately, alongside
the physical ailments, a re-active depression has had a deleterious
effect on my ability to respond rationally to any minor physical or
emotional setback.
Yesterday
morning as I lay on my bed, chokingly sobbing, Piper ran up the
stairs, placed his head beside mine and lay with me for a few
minutes; that in itself demonstrated that his presence in our life
proves therapeutic. I have actually managed a couple of shorter walks
with the boy in the cooler parts of the evening.
Piper
is certainly becoming more confident since joining our family,
barking a confident disapproval of large darkly coloured dogs
encountered on his walks, yet offering friendly sniff-based greeting
to many other canines that he had at first cowered away from. Judging by
this behaviour, I suspect that the scattering of scars on head and
torso, received whilst in the pound, were caused by a really large
dark coloured canine. He has certainly gained a good knowledge of our
nearby footpaths and bridleways and seems to let his walker know when
he's ready to head back home.
 |
| his mistress's scent |
 |
| Piper |
 |
| Piper |
Although
I spend much more time with the dog at home, than my beloved OH
manages (owing to other commitments), she is definitely his dominant
other. Fortunately, he now spends less time dolorously searching for
his mistress when her other duties call and, this weekend he has been
left solely in my charge, as his chosen other ventured down to the
south of the country for a couple of days and nights. Now, after 10
hours of Helen's absence he has just been casting a few longing
glances at the door of the lounge but, then goes trotting around the
garden, looking for possible sources of mischief. On returning to the
house he welcomes my attention before checking out the door once
more, anxiously awaiting his mistresses return.
These
days I hate, almost fear, spending evenings and nights alone in the
house, feeling rather vulnerable, due no doubt, at least in part to
my sundry physical (and reactive emotional) ailments but, I'm sure
that Piper's companionship will help.
