November 1, 2006
Monday we began our Chapter Two with Alphie. We met with the trainer Mike and our dear miscreant Alphie twice before this day so that we saw how things were going, and also learned some things about how to go forward. We were all delighted to be together again, and Alphie has been “Wonderdog” ever since returning home with us. Mike gave us a beautiful outline for our continuation of the work that was done, and this morning, as planned, I took Alphie to Concordia campus and walked there. One of the difficulties we had was that out here, we didn’t interact with many people, so when friends or family came, we had a wild, ungovernable 100 pound creature leaping, mouthing and carrying on. This was a primary behavior modification that the trainer addressed, and in order to retain the learning, I needed to take Alphie where there are people. I didn’t plan my timing and we arrived at the crosswalks on campus just as Chapel was ended, and we were suddenly met with a wall of people. Alphie was stellar – he walked close to my left side, remained calm, and when someone asked to pet him, I followed my instructions and said that Alphie was “in training” and would need to be seated first. I made Alphie sit, and the petting took place, exactly as we were told it would. We met friends, Alphie sat and waited; he BEHAVED! Though the reformation has been in effect only a short time, we are delighted and hopeful – as of this hour, Alphie is the dog we assumed he would be without training, just because he was living with such excellent humans.
Colder weather came with November, and only the weeping willows have green leaves still. They are a species from Wisconsin so they wave their fronds about and appear to say to the local creek willows that have lost most of their leaves to the north winds, “We laugh at this weather – you think this is cold? Hah! You should experience Wisconsin!” Tonight the low will be in the ‘teens, so perhaps their bravado is short lived.
Tomorrow I return to the oncologist’s office and I will perhaps/likely begin another round of Chemotherapy. The days since September 15 (when I returned to feeling near normal after chemo) have been a gift of life and I think I have never enjoyed myself more in all my years. Now my prayers begin with a long litany of thanksgiving for so much of what had been ordinary life experience before. Many days I was able to forget entirely that the early days of remission are not quite the same as arriving all the way home.