Saturday, January 18, 2014

MAMA PAJAMA


Mama Pajama about 2 years earlier
Mama P is, in the words of my wife, a very old dog, about 6 months away from her 17th birthday.  Her hearing is atrocious; her sight questionable, and her default mental state seems to be confusion.  But her spirit is undaunted in spite of the restraints imposed by age and chronic disease, the same spirit that made her the number one lure-coursing whippet in the country in her younger days.  As part of our shared routine, I leave the studio every day about 3 o’clock and make my way to our bedroom upstairs where Mama P will be sleeping in her crate.  I clap my hands several times to wake her up.  If she is really into a heavy sleep she opens her eyes to look at me, and goes back to sleep.  When this happens I find something to do for 10-15 minutes, return and clap again.  This time she will wake up and accompany me down the stairs and out the front door for her mid-afternoon duty. I have learned to wait patiently for her ever so slow return to the house.  I swear she travels about one foot/minute as she wanders aimlessly toward the porch steps, constantly distracted by absolutely nothing.

Eventually we make it back to her crate where she waits for me to lift her into it. 
Now comes my reward for taking part in this daily dance.  I get on my knees and lean into the crate, and as I gently stroke her head and neck her legs slowly fold and she collapses into the pillow of blankets.  I get my head down so we are face-to-face and nose-to-nose, and she stares at me with her unseeing eyes and tells me she enjoys this as much as I do.  I sense that she know so much, that she is old and feeble, and that is OK, because that is the way it’s supposed to be; she has no complaints about this. And she knows she is loved, which is also the way it should be.

Am I projecting all of this onto our dog?  I don’t think so.  But if I were, it is only because Mama P has both inspired me and allowed me to do so.  I feel she is teaching me so much about growing old.

10 comments:

Chelynnah said...

You are a wonderful man Bill Renzulli!! Thank you for sharing your special Mama P time with us

Chelynnah said...

You are a wonderful man Bill Renzulli!! Thank you for sharing your special Mama P time with us

Kevin said...

What a wonderful and touching story, it made me misty eyed. Bill, your artistic talent crosses from painting to writing. God Bless you, Patience, and Mama Pajama. Kevin

Kevin said...

What a wonderful and touching story, it made me misty eyed. Bill, your artistic talent crosses from painting to writing. God Bless you, Patience, and Mama Pajama. Kevin

Kevin said...

What a wonderful and touching story, it made me misty eyed. Bill, your artistic talent crosses from painting to writing. God Bless you, Patience, and Mama Pajama. Kevin

Anonymous said...

Beautiful story! My little mini doxie is getting older, only 11 but she can no longer do stairs. when she goes out the back door, she can make it down the deck stairs ok, but then she is patiently waiting at the bottom when she is done. Also she was born blind in one eye and deaf, but you would never have known it. She definitely rules the house and is afraid of no dog no matter the size. I hope she keeps going as long as your sweet Mama P. She is lucky to have you and you her!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful story! My little mini doxie is getting older, only 11 but she can no longer do stairs. when she goes out the back door, she can make it down the deck stairs ok, but then she is patiently waiting at the bottom when she is done. Also she was born blind in one eye and deaf, but you would never have known it. She definitely rules the house and is afraid of no dog no matter the size. I hope she keeps going as long as your sweet Mama P. She is lucky to have you and you her!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful story! My little mini doxie is getting older, only 11 but she can no longer do stairs. when she goes out the back door, she can make it down the deck stairs ok, but then she is patiently waiting at the bottom when she is done. Also she was born blind in one eye and deaf, but you would never have known it. She definitely rules the house and is afraid of no dog no matter the size. I hope she keeps going as long as your sweet Mama P. She is lucky to have you and you her!

Unknown said...

Your descriptive ritual is precious. Thank you for sharing your tender moments with readers. The love our dogs bestow upon us is truly a priceless gift. Aren't we lucky?

Unknown said...

Your descriptive ritual is precious. Thank you for sharing your tender moments with readers. The love our dogs bestow upon us is truly a priceless gift..aren't we lucky?