Yesterday was quite day around here. Linda Goulding had posted a meme that said:
"A rescue dog is a special dog...
if you expect perfection...
buy a cuddly toy."
I thought about this throughout the day as Sam, Gas and I faced some challenges together. It was an ongoing day of ahas for me. Then I saw on another site where a dog I'd followed closely who'd been in the shelter for 8 years and had recently found a home, was missing. My heart was breaking for Drak, and it probably hit me a little harder because I worry about that with Gaston too. There's so much to learn and pay attention to any time you add another to the equation of your life.
I've been taking Gaston out on the terrace with me while I garden. With my geraniums lined up on the terrace wall, my burgundy favorite was on the end. It's done well all these years with my comings and goings and Evelyn's care and attention while I'm gone. That one was the last geranium standing in a place that is usually full of them. I couldn't resist. It needed a little special attention, but it was beautiful and unique. I so enjoyed pruning, pampering and engraising it from time to time.
It blossomed into a huge beauty on my terrace that summer before we left for the states in 2012. I carried all of the geraniums down to Evelyn when we left.
Now that we're back and here all year, it feels good to be able to take my time to touch, tend, and love on this place and the things that make us the WE that we are.
The geraniums were on that list. Out on the terrace with the watering can, I was shocked to see that when I raised the can to water; Gaston began to cower. I put in down and went over to touch him and talk to him and reassure him that everything is okay. I found myself telling him: "I'll never hit you!" All I could think was that somewhere in his early past someone had beaten him. It breaks my heart to see him cower like that.
We are learning and growing together. (Look at those sweet crossed paws!) I'm grateful for the patience that living in the Lot has taught me over the years. My geranium patience paid off. I'm certain that our Gaston patience will pay off too. As far as the perfection stuff goes...I believe that when we are able to accept people, places, things and 4-legged children as they are-we have the power to make them perfect. That doesn't mean that there won't be adjustments along the way...but that's when I've seen relationships grow and blossom. I know that blossoming is in Monsieur Gaston's future.
Happy Saturday!
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