Miss Aggy Sits Shiva

Miss Aggy is a sweet little dog with an interesting and sad history. Her name is really an acronym designed by my two oldest grands: Annie and Garrett. Her name stands for:

Annie and Garrett's Gentle Youngun'

Aggy's story begins, at least with us, on a desolate highway in middle TN. I was returning from doing some equine work on my horses while they were staying at a friend’s ranch. As we were driving home on this hot and blistering summer day I spotted a critter laying in the highway- I thought at first it was a dead deer in the road- but then it moved- I quickly glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw no cars or trucks behind us and slowly pulled over to the median. I told the grands to stay put- gram needed to stop and check it out as this is what I do (I am a veterinarian by training) I heard my grandson say "Gram its coming towards us around the back of the van" I thanked him and sure enough here was this limping little dog coming toward me. I made a quick assessment and decided to see if she would let me lift her into the van (all the while praying oh please don't let this be some wild critter who will attack the grands) This pup let me lift her in spite of all her wounds - including a huge gaping chest wound, and i laid her on the floor of the van- I incidentally keep the middle two seats tucked into the body of the car so i can more easily transport things like feed, supplies and critters- the back bench seat is up for back passengers (at the moment that was my grandson Garrett) or for my Carolina dog Chipper Cheyenne) The pup laid on a towel i put down for her and my grandson proceeded to comfort her- She was dehydrated, starving, full of ticks and with many wounds both brutal and frightening- What was especially unreal is Aggy was only somewhere around 3 months old.

As we got back on the road the kids started thinking of names- and they came up with Aggy.

Well it has been about a year since then and Miss Aggy has grown healthy and strong and very very happy- In fact we nicknamed her Wags because that little half tail (yes someone had chopped her tail) that little tail does not stop wagging!

Until the other day...Aggy was doing her usual romp through the yard barking at the squirrels she chased from branch to branch fence to fence- it was a game she loved and i think the squirrels enjoyed it too. I was busy working in my office listening to the barks- and then suddenly there was a different very distressed barking and howling coming from Aggy as well as Chipper Cheyenne our Carolina dog. I jumped up and ran to the front door and out to the front porch- where i saw the pup at the gate howling and barking- and Chipper running back at me with the bark that said "hurry! Do something!"

I looked to the street and saw what was distressing them- a squirrel had been hit and killed by a car/truck i don’t know what- i went down to the gate where Aggy stood whining and staring at the squirrel- i held her close and talked gently to her telling her it’s ok Aggs its OK, she whimpered some more but leaned into me- never taking her eyes off of the squirrels dead body- i heard a truck coming down the road and it was a city worker tree trimming truck- they actually are great friends with Miss Aggy who watched as they removed some trees after one of our storms- the fellow - one i didn’t know- stopped short of the squirrels body and got out, picked him up and flung him up into the truck of tree debris- Aggy watched carefully and finally looked at me- I told her that was OK Mr. squirrel was going to go to the compost pile by our community gardens and that was a good place for him to go. Aggy stared after the truck which was now departing down the road.

I tried distracting Aggy by taking her for a walk around the yard. I pointed out a different kind of bee than our usual one- actually what i said to her was "well Aggy I am not sure who this little guy is but I bet our Susan J Tweit would know! Aggy wagged her little tail a bit at that- she is used to me talking about our story network friends the Susans A and T- I talked to Aggy about pollinators as we watched the industrious bee do its thing- Then we walked around and watched some birds running back and forth to their nest in the bushes and talked about the babies and how maybe it would be a good idea not to eat anymore birds ... Aggy then came inside with me where she laid down under my desk and simply looked sad....later that afternoon she was back out in the yard when my partner Maria came to me and said I think your dog is Jewish (She was smiling as we often talk about my heritage and life choices as a Jewish Irish Buddhist). I said oh? She said yep Aggy is out at the fence sitting Shiva- and sure enough there was little Aggy sitting and staring at the spot in the road where the little squirrel met his demise.

Aggy spends less time at the gate these days and is back to playing with the squirrels. she is also distracted nicely by her dog friend Ace - an 18 month old border collie- who comes over to play once in awhile while his mom goes to work at the local shelter- but every once i awhile I catch Aggy's sad look- and i will continue to hear that pitiful wail- Miss Aggy of the gentle heart-

So this story of Aggy sitting Shiva will be part of a children's book on the gentle little dog who is my precious Miss Aggy- thanks to a wonderful suggestions by one of the "Susans" - Susan J. Tweit- it is good to take sad events and make them teaching moments- i am after all a teacher and a writer- but most of all i am deeply touched by this little dog who has seen so much, and experienced such brutality in her first months. And the gentle soul that she is touches me but also teaches me daily.

Chery

Healing Waters

I stood for a long decadent time under the gentle spray of the shower this morning just closing my eyes and feeling the warmth, the healing power, of water. I admit I did think of how wasteful I was being especially when there are so many without clean safe water to drink right now, let alone the luxury of standing under a warm decadent shower head.

I then thought about the healing nature of water. My chiropractor said it best: "whatever ails you throw water at it". If my joints ache i know i am not drinking enough water. If the edema sets in, especially after a long drive, i know i simply need to go sit in a pool, lake or tub and let nature do its thing to readjust those electrolytes moving and those tissue fluid compartments in balance once again .... all the while drinking plenty of water of course.

I know in my animal patients the most important thing is to keep them hydrated- nothing will make a critter go down as fast as dehydration.

And then I thought too of the many other uses of water:

Cooling of nuclear reactors- on all of our minds these days

Hydration of growing crops- especially as e plant our gardens with the arrival of spring

The simple act of purification- for example by its distribution through soil and sediment layers for "decontamination"

The all important mix in so many chemical and biochemical reactions

Water is life- simple statement and yet deeply meaningful

I love water- water to me is my favored drink- my drink of choice especially at meals. I love to swim in water, lay in water, play in water...love surfing, swimming, boating- anything water related. I love simply being around water- walking along the river, the lake, the streams, the ocean....side note no one could believe i would ever leave my pacific coast as i am such a water baby- so needed my ocean- amazing though how the waters of eastern TN heal me too- and the Smokies especially center and heal me....)

I spent most of my adult years in the water poor western states...surrounded by ocean and lakes yet always under water conservation. I was used to of course the outward water conservation ideas but it took my youngest grand to teach me even more about conservation and respect for our planet and her resources. and thanks to my youngest granddaughter Cassie it became more so even in the simplest personal tasks- i remember this tiny California native standing on a little stool to brush her teeth before bed when she was visiting with mom and dad and her reminding dad to put some water in her little Dixie cup so she could use that for dipping her toothbrush and rinsing her mouth- her eyes got huge when i let the water run at the other sink- i learned quickly though and thanked her for teaching me that-

So much so that when i moved to the Smokey Mountains of eastern TN i was surprised to learn there were no restrictions on water use. What you can flush at will? Water lawns whenever? No one looks twice if you wash your car in your driveway?? Hmmmm truly a very different world than what i was used to .....

yet water conservation is still a part of my life...so this morning as i stood under the wonderfully healing and refreshing waters of my shower i did feel guilt...and was thankful that i was able to take those selfish extra few minutes to reflect and meditate while under the healing stream of water.

Chery

Blog for Health

Blogging

I Love Sharon Lovejoy's blogs- click on her grimy hands to go check it out......

Blogging is a wonderful tool...it helps you organize your thoughts and share those thoughts with others far and wide. Blogging serves as a tool for writing, and an exercise of the fingers as well as the mind.

I subscribe to many blogs and look to add additional ones each day. Most of the blogs I subscribe to are by fellow writers...we are each other’s best audience and I know my writer colleagues are my best support system.

I was just getting started with blogging when I took a break - or I should say a move caused me to take a break - it wasn’t long though before I realized that I felt especially “off” simply because I was NOT blogging. Seems that the move simply took all of my energy - are moves ever easy? And I had none left to blog- and I have thought about this. I think that the most healing thing I could be doing during the move throughout the trauma was to blog and yet I felt so depleted I was unable to. So I have made a promise to myself as part of the taking better care of me policy I have adopted. In times of stress especially when you feel zapped of energy, sit down and write- blog. It heals.

I am slowly but surely finding my rhythm again...helps that my office is finally getting more organized- To me there is nothing quite so discerning as not being able to find something when i reach for it- having things out of their place, I admit does start a bit of a panic in me. But the settling in and re-organization of the new office in the new home is part of the healing process too- because it helps me to write and again writing is healing. And as part of my writing exercises i am glad to have discovered blogging.

Blogging....soul searching or lighthearted ad libs....whatever the topic whatever the purpose- no matter if you write for only your eyes, no matter if you have hundreds of subscribers- blogging , writing is healing…write…above all else write.

Chery is a writer, blogger and workshop leader

www.DocChery.com

Feeling Spring

I have been called many things: nature child, earth girl, healer, granny healer, medicine woman, animal whisperer, among others....

Whatever I am called one thing I know is that I feel nature. I feel the changes with tides, with weather patterns, smell a storm coming be it rain or snow, I feel the changes the earth makes with the change of seasons ... and one of my favorite changes I love to feel is that seasonal one from winter to spring.

Walking barefoot in the yard, on the sidewalk, or in the driveway is something i do less of here in the south than i did when i lived on the west coast or even when i lived in a tiny suburb of Chicago Illinois... but occasionally i will find myself outside barefoot even here in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Eastern TN. I found myself barefoot of late- chasing a kitty who does not understand why i am hesitant to let her wander in the new neighborhood...and i stopped in my tracks after just a few steps...because i felt it ... I felt the change in the earth that has always heralded to me the arrival of spring.

The ground feels different...it feels warmer, more alive, vibrant and vibrating…like the roots are awakening just beneath my feet...i feel this, I felt it...even though it was overcast and a chill still lit the air...i felt it.

Spring is ready to show its face...life will start anew... time to plant the gardens...time to relish the spring Redbud blooming....actually though it is the Bradford Pears i believe that blossom first here in eastern tn... but no matter - winter has ended...and spring is being ushered in... Smokey Blue (the kitty) still is angry she can’t explore the new neighborhood especially in spring- especially with all of the birds nesting here around the new house...spring is here...i feel it...regardless of what the weatherman says.

Welcome spring … perfect timing … renewal … rejoicing in the newness…perfect timing: springs arrival and mine~

Welcome!

Retirement

The MW dictionary defines retiring as: "the act of withdrawing from one's position or occupation or from actively working"

I have never really considered retiring. I think the main reason has been that for the majority of my working years I have been my own boss, run my own companies and worked for myself, so I have to ask myself what is it exactly that I would be retiring from?

I have also wondered what it is that i would actually "Do" differently in the interesting state of retirement. For if i didn't have some project each day to get back to or start I think i would wither and die.

This I think this is the crux of the matter - i work for myself on projects I design and decide to work on and change my "work" as necessary to fulfill my need to feel productive while filling a need or niche and in turn, hopefully, my work enables me to support my family.

So what is retirement? I think retirement is the leaving of a job that no longer feels fulfilling. I think retirement is leaving a job where you no longer feel appreciated.

I think retirement is leaving...leaving to hopefully move on to something that feels more rewarding and worthwhile.

I know what retirement isn't. Retirement at least from what i have seen with friends who have retired from their careers or positions- retirement is not sleeping in in the morning. Retirement is not suddenly finding yourself with more time on your hands. Retirement is not so many things one hears and is lead to believe.

I think what retirement can be and hopefully will be for those in traditional jobs or careers is a change from something not necessarily as rewarding as it once was to something very fulfilling.

Retirement can and should be a place a state of mind an attitude and an opportunity to review and renew. A chance to rediscover what is important to you and what it is that you want to learn and work on for the next segment of your adult life.

Personally I know I will never retire in the traditional manner. What i will do is continue to reevaluate and reconsider. I will pursue more of what is important to me as a human being, as a woman and as a citizen of this planet. I do know as I near that third act (thank you Jane Fonda for that wonderfully correct description!) as i approach this third act of mine I am enjoying changing directions to pursue what feels right to me, to find as the great writer and teacher Susan Wittig Albert says "your true voice", while also finding ways to support myself.

As a woman I belong to a wonderful tribe- a tribe that is filled with wonderful role models and guides. Sisters who help and encourage and are there to say what the heck are you thinking of while at the same time saying well done, bravo for thinking. I embrace my femaleness in an entirely new way as I near this third act and am once again thankful to be a member of the tribe of women.

Retirement redefined as seeking new directions to fulfill the soul- that works for me every day~

Chery

Winter Ramblings

Today's high was 28 degrees, with the low expected to be around 17. When i ventured down the hill to run some much neglected errands in town this afternoon the wind chill was at 21 degrees. The sun was shining so brightly though, showing the snowy Smokey Mountains in gorgeous relief. It is always a beautiful scene driving down from my hill- the view of the valley and the Smokies never ceases to take my breath away. The ice had melted from all but one stubborn shaded part of the hill down, so driving was easy.

The only precarious moment was walking from my parking space into the bank across a very icy parking lot. It still amazes me that i feel a little more cautious these days- is this part of growing older? i suspect it is....and the subject fascinates me. Or am I simply sick of getting hurt (the recent tears in knee ligaments that seem to take forever to heal). Perhaps it is simply a combination- knowing as you get older the balance may be a little more precarious, the reflexes not as quick as they used to be and definitely takes longer to heal. Not that i am feeling old...simply older...as i near 60 which i do really consider still young, i seem to be more aware of my body of movement, and to think a little more before just simply jumping in...and again as i said this i find fascinating.

I notice this also as i watch the girls (my mares) - and other horses- my yearling jumps and runs without a thought where as Soli our oldest mare thinks a little as she walks and canters and runs...Nikki the "middle" mare is a combination of the two...so in nature I see what i am feeling.

Meanwhile baby Aggy ( the rescue pup now 10 months old) grows stronger and sweeter with each day- and today was a great day for her as she was left out of her crate while i did m,y errands down the hill and absolutely no damage, no adventures for Aggy while i was gone! Hurray for Miss Aggy!! You are growing into a fine trustworthy young pup.

Dinner tonight was simple pasta veggies and Quorn meatballs...i do so love their products. However i have to do something about a timer- after the one on the upper oven broke i have been lost which usually means i get lost back in my work in my office and forget something is cooking- tonight the water was burning out from under the steamer...thats OK the veggies survived albeit not as el dente as i would like...and the pasta was definitely not el dente but again survived.

So dinner is complete and its time to get some evening work done... evenings are often times of great productivity for me as the phone stops ringing the pups quit clamoring to be let out and the silence descends up here on the hill....so as the sun sets over the snowy mountains and the pups snore around my office i feel the words coming...and its a great feeling

Chery

Knoxville, TN

Aggy is getting much surer of herself and continues to heal well. Pictured here with her little buddy Patches. Both will have their Big Girl surgery soon!