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Dull moments

Never a dull moment is a saying that really seems to be all too true for me these days.

Never a dull moment is a saying that really seems to be all too true for me these days.  In fact, I wish for a few dull moments.  Although, I don’t know if dull moments are something I aspire to, but rather maybe something I need just a few of.

This past week definitely could have been a little calmer.  The kids and I have been doing a lot of travelling for hockey and dance and have had very little down time.  As a result the house is in a constant state of disarray, as are its homeowners.

The Saturday before last, our Border Collie Suzie went M.I.A. (missing in action).  My daughter Shelby had opted out of the trip to Merritt for yet another hockey game.  She had a fairly large load of homework and thought that it seemed more appealing than sitting in a cold arena seat.

Before we left for Merritt, we could hear gunshots up behind the ranch houses.  It is a sound we have grown to hate.  It means hunting season; vandalized locks, broken gates, cut fences, trespassing and mounds of litter.  Like most landowners, hunting season brings with it a lot of carnage that has nothing to do with animals.

This year, hunting season made our beloved Suzie disappear.  We scoured the ranch for Suzie calling until our throats were hoarse.  My brother brought his dog Chip over and we had Bella on the loose.  Neither dog sniffed their way to Suzie.  There were tears.

Monday morning is my bad day (and probably a lot of other people’s).  In between, pages and articles, I phoned around looking for word of our dog.  I decided, to post Suzie as missing on all the local Facebook sites.  Ten minutes after posting Suzie’s picture, I had a hit.

A lady from Chilliwack had ironically phoned the other paper to have an ad put in about a dog she had found miles from our ranch on the Vancouver highway.  Disoriented, Suzie had somehow ended up on an unintentional road trip.  Rather than being mad about the gunshots that had sent her running, I was so grateful.

It is not until you loose a pet that you realize how much they are a part of the family.  After talking to Victoria from Chilliwack for a few minutes, I felt confident Suzie was in good hands.  She had saved her from one of many worse outcomes.  Shortly after finding Suzie, I had found her a ride home and the kids sad faces had been replaced with joy.

So as I dream for a few dull moments, I also feel gratitude.  I feel grateful for a stranger named Victoria and for social media.  I feel grateful for my friend who brought Suzie home.  I am also happy Suzie is back on her dog bed and that my kids are smiling again.  Some days life really is for the dogs.