By Johanna Mohringer
Do you remember the thunderstorm and all its beautiful lightning of last Friday night? I sure do! I had retired early that evening. Since getting more mobile, I also get more tired. I was alone at home, well not really alone, the three dogs were inside, too. They like to stay outside till late, but if it’s as humid as it was, they must sense a thunderstorm is brewing and stick close to me. I must have dozed off and, when I woke again, there was much rumbling in the sky and an occasional flash of lightning.
I have always loved thunderstorms and was going to enjoy it to the fullest. First a trip to the bathroom and then back to my chair. However, when I was in the bathroom, there was a loud thunderclap and the power went out. The dogs had followed me to the bathroom and were circling around my legs. This made it harder to walk and find my way back to the living room without tripping over them. I could feel them against my legs, but could not see them. A slow process. I was happy to get to my chair. However, it is a lift chair that functions only with electricity, and it had been left in the wrong position for sitting.
I went slowly with the dogs to the other side of the room to the desk chair, which is not as comfortable. From there I could see even more of the outside world and the lightning. It was beautiful. In my lift chair, my legs get elevated by the push of a button and in the desk chair, they stay down. My legs and feet were already pretty swollen and I could not get my head in a comfortable position either, but I had to wait till my son came home from work before that could be remedied.
He started right away when he got home. He found a flashlight by which to work, and propped me with pillows for my head and legs. The lights came back on just when I was getting comfy. I had to laugh when I saw how he had pampered me with all those pillows and a contraption rigged up for my feet. The fireworks had stopped by that time.
Saturday we had the big garage sale at St. Peter’s, where I had a table set up with knitted and crocheted articles. I did not have many sales, but made some nice contacts. To my own surprise, I lasted all day and finally went home when we closed up and the booths came down. It had been a nice day with a pleasant atmosphere. We hope to do it again next year. If we make a little profit, it will be used for outreach in the community.
Next time you see and hear from us will be in the 4th of July parade, where we will have a float.
Sunday, one of my sons came over and announced he had two tranquilizers with him to put Bella at least half to sleep and he was willing to give her a haircut. He has a friend who had a dog who also was deadly scared of scissors and clippers, and it worked for him.
Before he tranquilized the dog, he had to go to town to buy a barber set. He came back triumphantly with his purchase, and then managed to give the pills to the dog. Bella sensed something was afoot and became nervous. It took well over an hour before it looked like she was quieting down, but as soon as somebody approached her, she started pacing again. So, it was a while before my son could start working on her. It was big, big job and lasted over four hours. It still is not a professional job and does not look like one. But she lost a lot of hair and must feel better. Her hair was so matted and hung in large clumps with branches, stickers and burrs. Having no ventilation and being unable to breath through the skin must take its toll on a dog. Maybe later we will get the dogs to a groomer, just for beauty’s sake, no longer a health issue.
