Dear Margaret #9

Dogs

Dear Margaret,

My dear friend, I suspect your sadness continues. When I hear from you next, I expect you to have a new puppy, as I advised previously. 

Brian and I are in the midst of slowly starting to say goodbye to our big guy, but there will be another dog joining us in early January, so we will have three dogs for a short while. We haven’t chosen a breed or whether to adopt from our friend’s rescue, Mutt Mutt Engine. The great thing about Mutt Mutt is that the dogs they save from all around the world all live with fosters who can tell us about their pros and cons as we try to decide which way to go. 

All that said, we have a lot of experience living with an aggressive pitbull over the past 11 years, and while we know they can be the sweetest babies in the world, we are hoping to find a temperament we can read more about and plan for. Our buddy was a sort of mistake for us to make. I think I can say that and also say that I know my heart will shatter when his time comes, too. I love him very much. 

So when it’s time for him to go, sooner than later now, that will leave us grieving and in need of some joy. Sometimes we’re fresh out of joy around here, and I know a pup would give us a little extra kick of hope and hysterical entertainment. Something good for our family to do together to usher in some new memories. We could really use some. 

Ok, this concludes the pet deliberations for this letter. All I can really say is that even though I feel fear in needing to make this decision, it will be dissolved by laughter and wonder and love when I get that fuzzy baby tucked up against my neck, whether they come from a Sonoma County breeder or a Tijuana rescue run from the states.  

Let me know how you are and how your health is. It’s a wicked time of year for colds and flus. Did I tell you I was at the ER last week after I had ANOTHER bad reaction to my blood infusion? They thought I had meningitis. Again. Of course, it would be nicknamed “chemical meningitis,” as it was caused by something other than a bacterium or virus. Well, chemical meningitis fucking sucks, I can tell you that. Not sure how we’re going to move forward with this because I can’t give up a week of my life every couple of months to writhe in pain with a headache that nothing touches. Boy, do I have a new respect for migraine sufferers. That shit is serious.

The invite for you to come here still stands, though it’s supposed to rain for like 10 days straight starting tomorrow, and it appears there is chaotic storming all over the country. But if you show up at my door in the wee hours of the 25th, I will bring you in with love and lots of booze, or maybe a cup of tea. (Don’t worry… the booze won’t go to waste. I won’t let it!)

Sending so much love your way. 
XO
Jen
 
P.s. How much is too much fudge to eat in one night during the holiday season?