Future Rescue worker

I don't intentionally eavesdrop on my next door neighbor.  In my defense, their 5 year old daughter really does talk loud so it's almost impossible not to overhear her conversations.  I also know that most of what is going to come out of her mouth is going to make me smile, so to be honest, I don't avoid listening either.

Recent activity has led me to believe that this sweet little girl might end up running an animal rescue group or an animal shelter one day.  She seems to really have the process down already.  I'll hear her asking her mom "Would you like a dog?  I have many you can choose from.  Do you want a Lab or a Chihuahua?"  (Her "rescue group" seems to help mostly Labs and Chihuahuas).  "What color do you want?" (and then she'll list off all the available colors . . . black and tan, black and white, solid black, brown, etc).  Her mom will graciously make her selection and then I'll hear her say, "Ok, stay right there, I am going to go get your new dog for you.  I think you are going to be very happy together."

They've been playing this "game" a lot lately and it just tickles me.  The other day, the little girl could see me through the crack in the fence between our yards and she yelled, "Maureen, do you want to see one of my chihuahuas?"  I said I'd love to, and put my face up by the crack in the fence.  She was holding up a plastic dog that was as big as a real chihuahua.  I told her I thought he looked like a really nice dog and she said, "I know, all of my dogs are really nice."  She hasn't asked me yet if I would like to adopt one but I have a feeling she may ask sometime soon.

It reminds me of a game that my friends and I played when we were little.  We pretended that we ran a Hilton Hotel that was only for people looking for a place to stay with their pets.  I have no idea where the idea came from but my parents were very supportive.  My dad gave us a phone to use (that of course was not plugged in) so we could take the calls that were coming in and my mom gave us index cards and a little recipe holder to keep track of the reservations.  We would even pretend to get calls from people who didn't have pets and we would tell them they should call another hotel, as our hotel was only for people who wanted to travel with their cats and dogs.

Many years ago, when I first heard about hotels that allowed pets, I was so excited.  I decided there must have been some other kids playing that same game when they were young and I was thrilled to know they finally made it a reality.  It makes you wonder how much we really do know when we are little about what path our lives will take when we get older.

The wonderful thing about my darling little next door neighbor is that even though she has all those dogs she is finding homes for, she still makes time for her "real" dog, Cricket.  The other day, I heard her say, "Cricket, do you want to go watch a movie together?" and then I heard her say a little louder, "Cricket, I am talking to you!  Do you want to go watch a movie together?"  He must have said yes, because I heard them both go inside and heard the sliding glass door close.  I hope Cricket enjoyed the movie but I am sure he was mostly happy just to be invited to join her.

The Joy of Opened Windows

The other day, my brother sent me a link to a video that he thought I would enjoy.  It was a video of dogs sticking their heads out of car windows.  I wasn't sure how exciting it was going to be but I gave it a shot anyway.  Much to my surprise, it had me smiling from ear to ear.

Seeing how happy these dogs were, with the wind blowing in their faces, I couldn't help but instantly be in a better mood.  It brought back memories of how much Lucky used to love sticking her head out the window and how patiently she would sit in the backseat, with her nose pressed against the glass, waiting for me to notice that she needed her window rolled down.

There were times when I was trying to concentrate on reading road signs and had to keep opening and closing the window for her . . .  and I wished I could teach her how to roll the window down herself.  :-)

And then I remembered the first time Lucky realized it was even more fun to put her head out of the sunroof.  She would put her feet on the console between the two front seats as we were getting close to the park and stick her head out the sunroof, looking as if she had just discovered the secret to happiness.

This little video made me smile so much, I am including it below so you can watch it too.  I dare you to try to NOT smile while you are watching it.

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/05/riding-in-cars-with-dogs-video.html

Honoring my mother

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my mother's passing. We decided to get the family and some close friends together to mark the day.

We came up with the idea of having everyone bring a dish that reminded them of my mom - either something they made that she loved, or something she used to make that they loved. Everyone was excited about the idea and much to my delight, the menu came together perfectly and we had at least one of everything we needed.

We had some humorous moments in the weeks leading up to the celebration, as we sent my dad on multiple missions into the "cookbook cupboard" to find specific recipes. My poor dad was faced with the task of trying to read and transcribe recipes that had food stains on them and hand written notes from my mom about how she changed things from the original recipe. (sometimes with the notes conflicting with other notes she had written). :-) Everyone had a little bit of anxiety about "getting it right" as no one wanted to dishonor mom by messing up one of the dishes she was so well known for. :-)

As it turns out, I don't think the day could have been more perfect. The weather was beautiful so we set up a big table outside and as each dish was placed on the table, the "cook" shared the story of their dish and the memory it inspired about mom.

Once all the food was on the table, more story telling ensued, as we all recounted some of funniest memories of mom, many of them somehow involving food, like the time our good friends came over for Thanksgiving and found my dad blow drying the turkey on the kitchen counter when they arrived. It was because mom thought she bought a fresh turkey but it turned out to be frozen. We didn't eat dinner until about 10pm that night and so many pre-dinner cocktails had been served that most people didn't remember dinner that year.

It was good to be together, to eat and to laugh because it was the best way to remember my mom. She loved to eat, and she loved to laugh . . . ok, a few tears were shed as well, but that seemed alright too. Before we all left last night, we each went home with some roses from my mom's rose garden. The perfect end to a perfect celebration. I'm sure my mom was pleased with the way we chose to honor her.

Someone told me once that you have to go through four seasons of grief before you start to feel more peaceful with a loss. I think of it often, in my own grief, and as I help others who are experiencing their own grief over a loss. Getting through the "first" of everything, the first of each holiday, the first of each special occasion can be a challenge . . . now that we have experienced our four seasons, I hope that whenever we think of my mom, it will only brings smiles to everyone's faces.

A new job for Buck

I recently met a wonderful dog named Buck who had started exhibiting some odd behaviors. He wasn't sleeping at night, he seemed anxious all the time, he was barking at every little sound, pacing around the house, etc. His family was really worried about him and asked me to come and have a "talk" with him.

The day before the appointment, I asked Buck's guardian if she could let him know that I was coming and explain why, as I have always found that animals are more receptive to talking to me if a) they know in advance and b) they know their guardians are ok with it. That night, she sent me the most precious picture. It was a photo of her three children all sitting on the floor with Buck and she said they were all telling him that it was ok to talk to me. :-)

When I met Buck, one of the first things I realized was that he felt it was his responsibility to protect the family. Through what I was hearing from Buck and as well as the conversation I was having with his mom, I learned that his dad had recently been working on a very important project for work and it was keeping him up late at night. Since his dad was "busy," Buck felt it was even more important for him to be taking care of the family, which explained why some of these behaviors became worse at night.

Ultimately, one of the solutions we came up with was to give Buck another job (since we didn't think his dad's company would understand if he said he couldn't finish the project because it was disrupting his dog's routine). :-) We assured him that his dad could still be responsible for protecting the family, even when he was busy working on the computer and we asked Buck if he could focus on being there for the kids, to be their buddy. We told him that kids really need someone to listen to them and someone to hear about their day at school, etc. We told him how important this job was and that it would really help the kids a lot.

That night, when the kids were home from school, their mom told them about Buck's new job and encouraged them to talk to Buck when they got home from school, or any time that they had something to share. They were all excited about the idea and said they would be more than happy to help Buck fulfill his new job.

Only a few days later, I got the most wonderful update from Buck's mom. She said that almost all the behaviors they had been concerned about had greatly subsided. The kids were all enjoying their conversations with Buck, Buck was sleeping better at night and able to go to sleep when mom did, even if dad was still up working on the computer. He was not barking at every little sound and he even allowed himself to relax on the floor during "story time" and enjoy being one of the kids.

For him to have made this big of a transformation so quickly was beyond exciting, in my opinion. It made me so happy to know that giving him a new job made such a difference for him. Fortunately for Buck, he has a very wonderful family that is committed to making sure he is a very happy member of their family. I suspect they will all continue to thrive with Buck's new job.

Angel Communication

Do you find that you sometimes notice the same number sequences over and over? Whether it is the clock, a license plate, a billboard, etc? There are many who believe that this is the way angels communicate with us and offer us guidance. If you keep seeing the same numbers over and over again, there's a good chance the angels are trying to get a message through to you.

I was first introduced to the concept of these number sequences many years ago when it seemed that every time I looked at the clock, it was 11:11 or 1:11. I thought it was odd that it happened as often as it did and then one day, I heard someone speaking about the significance of a sequence of 1's and they said the message was "watch your thoughts . . . make sure you are thinking only about what you want and not about what you don't want".

In the days that followed, I realized that I was indeed thinking about what I didn't want in my life when I noticed the 11:11 on the clock. I decided it was in my best interest to listen to the guidance I was being given. Since I believe that our thoughts manifest our experiences, from that day forward, I made a concerted effort to make sure I was focusing more on what I DID want in my life. I am very glad I listened!

Recently, the concept of angel communication came back into my consciousness when a friend of mine was going through a difficult time. She told me that she often woke up in the middle of the night and when she did, she'd look a the clock and each time it was 4:44am. She had learned that a sequence of 4's was a sign that angels are surrounding you, reassuring you of their love and help. That you shouldn't worry because the angels' help is nearby.

I was so grateful that my friend was receiving this message, as I knew it was helping her feel less alone and less afraid during the difficult time she was going through.

I know there is a lot of information out there on the significance of these number sequences but the person I resonate with most is Doreen Virtue. If you are at all interested in learning a little more about this, I would check out Doreen's site - www.angeltherapy.com - or check out her book "Healing with the Angels" where she explains what all the various number sequences mean.

Maybe the angels are trying to get a message through to you as well!

Nuances of communication

It is always a joy for me to communicate with animals and I am often as tickled as I am awed by what they have to say. When communicating with animals, sometimes the information is straight forward and easy to understand but since I get a combination of words, images, and physical sensations from the animals, occasionally it can require a bit of detective work to piece together what they are trying to tell me, especially when it comes to body sensations and images, as there is a fair amount of interpreting that I have to do.

Recently, I had a session with two female dogs, Layla and Rosie. They were in good health and there were no behavioral issues. Their guardian was just interested in checking in with them and having a general communication session. They were very excited when I got there, showing me some of their their toys and demonstrating their ball chasing abilities for me. :-) After a little while, we settled down in the family room to have some conversation.

One of the questions the guardian had for her girls was, "Is there was anything you want or need that will make you happier." At first they had no requests, they told me that they were very happy with their lives and they loved their family. I relayed that to their guardian and she said, "I am glad to hear that but really? There isn't anything they want that would make them happier?"

Just then, I noticed that my mouth felt dry and I felt thirsty. I wasn't sure exactly what they were trying to tell me, so I asked the guardian if the girls had access to fresh water every day. She confirmed that they did but as she was telling me that, I had a feeling of not liking the water or it not being fresh, so I asked again and she pointed over to the kitchen and showed me that their water bowl was hooked up to a large water bottle that continuously poured fresh water into the bowl.

I was starting to feel slightly perplexed when all of the sudden I got an image of a slimy film around the edge of the bowl and it clicked. I said, "Does one of the girls slobber a lot when she drinks?" and their guardian started to laugh and said, "Oh yes, Rosie does." That's when all the pieces fell into place and I realized that Layla was bothered by all the slobber that accumulated around the edge of the bowl. That's what she had been trying to show me.

I asked the guardian if she would be willing to wash the bowl out more often and as she was confirming that she would do that, Layla came over and kissed the side of my face. Clearly, she was very pleased that her message had been communicated. :-)

I didn't want Rosie to feel that she was being made fun of, so I assured her that there was nothing wrong with her slobbering. I asked her if she would mind if the bowl was washed out more often and she was fine with that too, so everyone was happy.

I think it will always be a joy for me to communicate with animals. What they have to say is always so honest and so pure. Whether it is profound guidance they are offering or a small request they are making, it is important just the same.

Guy's Final Act of Devotion

A very special client of mine made his transition two weeks ago and while I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about his darling personality, about how much I adored him for being the sweet, sensitive, lovable boy that he was, and how deeply touched I was by the gentle loving care his mom Tina offered him, I have decided to focus this blog on his final accomplishment, his final act of devotion because it was so beautiful, it deserves to be shared.

This sweet boy's name was Guy, a 13 (soon to be 14) year old Rottweiler. His mate, Jewel passed away almost two years ago and for those of you who read my blog regularly, you might remember the blog I dedicated to Jewel when she passed away. She was very special to me. While the bonds were very strong between Guy and Jewel and both their human guardians, Jewel had an extra special connection with her mom Tina, and Guy had an extra special connection with his dad, Tina's ex-boyfriend, Tony.

Many people don't fully understand the role that animals play in our lives. Even though we think it is our job to take care of them, the truth is, they are committed to helping us take steps on our journey to become more authentic, more joyful versions of ourselves. They come into our lives to help us learn and grow in ways we may not realize we need the help, but to them, their mission is clear and it is something they take very seriously. Having had the opportunity to witness this myself with Guy, I was once again humbled by the beauty of our relationships with animals and feel compelled to share the story with all of you.

It was the final week of Guy's life and he sensed he would be making his transition soon. He really wanted to see Tony, he told me that several times. Since Tony now lives in Texas, it was going to be several days before he could get a flight back to California. Just in case Tony didn't get there in time, Tina asked Guy if he had any messages for Tony and he had some very profound things to say. I relayed all of Guy's advice to Tina, so she could in turn share it with Tony. I almost teared up relaying the message he had for Tony because it was such incredible, insightful, poignant and loving advice. I want to be respectful of Tony's privacy, so I am not going to share the details of the message from Guy, but I can say that it was beautiful advice about the ways he wanted Tony to change his thinking, so that he could change his experiences in life.

As the week progressed, Guy got weaker and weaker. He no longer wanted to eat, but he was very clear about his desire to see Tony. We kept him updated on how many more days it would be until Tony arrived and he was determined to hang in there until then. Tony's flight was due to land Sunday evening and at Guy's request, I went over on Saturday to give him a reiki treatment. After the treatment, his body temperature increased and so did his energy level and he felt he'd be able to hang in there until Tony arrived, but on Sunday, he wanted me to come back again to give him another treatment because he felt so strongly that he needed to see Tony and wanted to be sure he had that opportunity.

Much to everyone's delight, Guy and Tony were able to see each other that night. Once he arrived, Tina and Tony took Guy on a wagon ride around the neighborhood (a tradition that began with Jewel) and they were able to spend a wonderful evening together. When it was time to go to bed, Tina and Tony camped out on the floor in the family room with Guy and savored the opportunity to all be together.

At around 12:40am, my phone rang and it was Tina. She was concerned because she thought Guy had just made his transition but Tony didn't think he had yet and she asked me if I could check in with Guy and find out. At first when I tried to make a connection, I was confused, because I could sense Guy, but not in the way I normally could. I didn't know how much of it was because I hadn't fully woken up yet so I just sat there for a few minutes trying to focus and then all of the sudden, there was a flood of information.

I called Tina back and started to relay the information that I picked up and what I sensed Tony needed to do when she stopped me and said, "Will you tell Tony yourself?" I hesitated because I don't know Tony very well and wasn't sure how he would feel about what I was going to say, but the information I was getting was coming through so strong, I said, "Sure, put Tony on the phone." I told him that something was holding Guy here, and that there was something he needed to hear from Tony. I said, "I need you to lay down on the floor with Guy and talk to him from your heart, just speak whatever is in your heart right now. There is something he needs to hear from you and only you know what that is." About 4-5 minutes after we hung up the phone, I could feel Guy make his transition. It felt like this huge release in my heart, I felt love and contentment and peacefulness.

The next day, I went over to Tina's house to help them talk to the other two dogs (Buster and Mia, who are Jewel and Guy's children), to help them understand what was happening and address any concerns they had. After we had finished that, I had a chance to talk to Tony. I said, "You don't have to tell me what you said to Guy, but I want you to know how important it was and how much I appreciate you following the guidance I was getting." I explained to him the feeling of release I experienced when Guy made his transition and what a gift I felt he had given to Guy. Much to my surprise, Tony wanted to share what he had said to Guy. He explained that he had told Guy that he would follow the advice that he had given to him, that he would change his thinking, just as Guy had asked him to.

While Tony was telling Tina and I what he had said to Guy, every hair on my arms stood up and I could feel tears well up in my eyes. I knew that was exactly what Guy had been waiting to hear and I was so filled with gratitude. I was grateful that Guy had been able to fulfill his purpose, I was grateful that Tony had received the message so deeply and I was grateful that I had been given the opportunity to be a witness to this beautiful exchange.

Guy reminded me of how important animals roles in our lives are, how seriously they take their "mission" to guide us to be better versions of ourselves and how deeply and selflessly they love us and want the best for us. Guy will always hold a very special place in my heart, not only because of who he was when he was here (sensitive, sweet, loving and gentle) but because he allowed me to be a part of his final act of devotion, as he offered guidance to the human he cared so much about.

My hope is that Tony will always remember the promise he made to Guy and that he will enjoy the benefits of following Guy's loving advice. Animals truly can be our teachers and our guides, if we are willing to be open to what they are offering us. May you all continue to be blessed by the presence of the animals in your lives.