MooPig Report from the Middle :: "The Almost Dog"

Robert David Darnell
by Pat Darnell  |  Dec 27, 2013  |  Bryan TX

[Picture by Desiree Darnell] Christmas Day, Dad with our dog Foos, "Where's the new puppy, Grandpaw?"

It has been cool this month. That is how we describe the weather when it is 70 highs and 45 lows, in Houston.

"I don't think we are going to get any freeze this year," says Robert Darnell, my 91 year old Dad.

Since Mom passed away last April, Dad is alone much of the day. He has a home health care helper, Treena, come in from 1 PM to 6 PM every day to help him in his routine. We dropped in on him for Christmas Day. Dropped in as in brought the kids, the dog, and lots of food. Dad eats like a bird.
[Picture LINK]

He said he lost 20 pounds since his last year's physical, now weighing in at 145. He goes to the VA Hospital on 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, in the Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center. Dad wears hearing aids in both ears since his hearing faltered. It was determined he lost much of his hearing ability during WWII when he was on a Destroyer in the Pacific. "Our guns pounding the Japanese during Okinawa, pop, pop, when Kamikazers were trying to sink us ..." Dad says.

Two days before Christmas Dad's home health helper drove him down to Pet Rescue. He thought he might try a small dog to keep him company. So he and Treena mulled over the group of pups in the shelter, and settled on a terrier. Another family thought they might like this pup too. But Dad did the paper work, and adoption process and took his new puppy home.

Treena and Dad showed her the back yard where she would do her business. They played with her in the house.

For the rest of the day the puppy sat calmly in his lap, and followed Dad around the house. Dad uses a rolling walker to get around. He has had a bum knee since he wrenched it a few years back. The VA told him it would take a knee replacement to fix it. But he decided after watching Mom go through that, that he would forego that surgery, "because he is too ole," and has settled for monthly shots that ease his knee.

"What kind of dog is she?" I asked Dad on the phone when I called to tell him we would be there
Christmas Day.

"She's a mixture Terrier," said Dad.

Everything went okay, Treena left for the day, leaving Dad with his new Pup. Around dusk the puppy followed her instincts, and got very riled and boisterous as she heard someone walking outside in the street. Dad puttered over to the front door and opened it. His new puppy tore out of the house and got on the heels of one of Dad's neighbors. It was a nightmare for Dad, because of his impaired hearing, and he has to go pretty slow with his walker on the uneven ground outside.

Dad had to go all the way out to in the street and try to get the puppy back in the house. With his neighbor's help some how they meticulously got the puppy to calm down and go back in Dad's house.

Dad continued his evening routine and eventually went to bed.

When he woke up he discovered several piles of doggy doo around the house. Things were looking bad for Dad's new companion. Dad of course, can't stoop like he used to, and he can't clean like he used to. So, when Treena returned in the afternoon, they took the puppy back to the shelter for the other family who also wanted her.

That's our Report from the Middle; where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and the children are all above average.

________________________Reference
http://www.houston.va.gov/