Me and the Doods.com

From Meetings to the Mountains

Working with the dogs gives me a wonderful sense of fulfillment. They keep my life active and busy.

ELBEE I understand that’s a very good thing for seniors.

Over the past several months, I’ve felt such a sense of gratitude as we’ve returned to in-person hospital visits. Seeing the faces of the kids in the neuropsych units light up when the dogs walk in is an indescribable gift.

In this cautiously optimistic period following the main surge of COVID, Gus and Stanley have also been doing lots of special events. There seems to be a real need for the comfort of therapy animals.

This past week was a perfect example. Along with five other dogs and two miniature horses, they went to the UCLA Health board meeting, which was celebrating its tenth anniversary. You could feel the excitement as the large crowd walked out of the auditorium and saw the animals on the patio.

My friend commented that the shaft of light shining down in the photo on the right, was Charley and Elbee, my first two therapy dogs, watching over Gus and Stanley. I wish I could say that the two of them did a perfect job but things don’t always go as planned.

Gus was pretty low key but kept rolling over for belly rubs. Stanley, who’s generally very calm, had his own issue. He loves Blue Moon, one of the miniature horses, and was like the obnoxious kid showing off to get her to notice him. Blue Moon, fortunately, is used to the attention and takes it in stride.

ELBEE “In stride?” Is that a weak attempt at a joke?

STANLEY Excuse me for showing my feelings.

As for the mountains, I have all sorts of interesting adventures when I’m hiking with Henry. Last week it was when I was up on one of my favorite overlooks doing push-ups.

ELBEE She’s a showoff but I’m a little impressed.

A woman hiking by, using two walking sticks, saw us and stopped to chat. She shared that several months ago she had been coming up a nearby trail and had fallen and broken her ankle in three places. She’d had to be rescued.

As she told me the story, I realized that I had been there with Henry that morning! I’d seen the low hovering helicopter, the emergency workers running across the mountains and the ambulance on dirt Mulholland.

She’d undergone a few surgeries and had a long difficult recovery but she was back. I’d thought about her often and was so grateful that the universe had let me know she was okay.

A Dog Mom Extraordinaire

ELBEE OMG I hope she’s not talking about herself.

All of my friends with dogs are fabulous dog moms. They care so much about their pups that they’d cancel a dentist appointment if their dog had an emergency.

ELBEE But probably not a hair appointment.

My friend Donna, is one of them. Her Bichons, Tommy and Finley, are part of the UCLA People Animal Connection with the Doods. Gus and Tommy, buddies for years, have had the chance to do lots of great work together.

We’ve taken them in on Yom Kippur, probably a religious no no, but we decided that the good they were doing outweighed breaking the rules. They have brought lots of love and joy to the pediatric unit on Christmas. They have lifted the spirits of the emergency room staff.

On the lighter side, they represented their fellow therapy dogs on the news. They also had a chance to hang out with Dodger manager Dave Roberts.

ELBEE The way things went in the San Diego series, he could have used a therapy dog or two.

Thirteen now, Tommy is having some health issues and Donna has stepped up in the most caring way. To treat his diabetes, she has been giving him insulin shots. Not being a nurse and never having done that before, she had to learn how to give him his injections. She has also been cooking his meals.

Since Tommy still loves doing visits, Donna had to find a way to preserve his strength while he was making his “rounds.” To keep him from getting exhausted she bought a double stroller to push him around the hospital. There was even a seat for Finley, who wasn’t sure at first but then realized how nice it was to have a place to rest.

As a bonus, people love seeing the adorable twosome in the stroller. Last week we met in the lobby after the dogs finished their regular visits and they were instantly surrounded by smiles. It was Stanley’s morning and I think Tommy and Finley may have hired him as security.

ELBEE He has a little crush on Finley.

When I shared with Donna how much I admired what she doing, she put it beautifully when she said, “We have working dogs who are so special and we adore them.”

Hiking & “Healing” with Henry

In the past, I’ve shared that Yom Kippur is a biggie in the Jewish religion.

ELBEE And I’ve shared that I don’t think “biggie” is the appropriate term for the holiest day of the year.

It’s a day of atonement, reflection and remembrance. Traditionally observant people fast and spend most of the day in temple. Over the years, I have failed miserably at the traditional part. I guess I’m kind of a Yom Kippur rebel.

ELBEE Oy! So much for atonement.

The signs were there when I was a kid growing up in Syracuse. My closest friend, who shall remain nameless, and I went to Sabbath school, Judaism’s answer to Sunday school. On more than one occasion we tried to ditch services and were led back to the rabbi’s study by Eddie Rifkin one of his student spies.

ELBEE She remembers his name but not what she had for lunch yesterday?

In my defense, I’ve tried services at different temples, and even on Zoom, but nothing makes me feel as spiritual as being in the mountains. And isn’t that what religion is about…connecting with something larger than ourselves?

This year I headed up a trail with Henry by my side. He is the most at ease in the mountains since Charley, my very first therapy dog, so there was comfort in having him with me. One woman we met said, “He’s got such good energy.” That was music to my ears since I’m hoping one day to bring him into the hospital.

We came to the Nike site, a park on Dirt Mulholland that was actually a lookout post during the Cold War. There is a tower with beautiful panoramic views.

As I sat up there with Henry, gazing at the ocean in the distance, memories washed over me. I could feel the spirits of my parents, my brother Stan and my wonderful friend Eileen, all precious to me and all gone too soon. I thought of so many others who are physically gone but who are still a part of my life. As always, there was incredible sadness but also a sense of healing and love.

On another morning I had a random encounter that also speaks to the power of the universe. I was walking into Tarzana Hospital with Gus when a woman called out, “That’s the cutest dog I’ve ever seen.” She was absolutely delighted when I told her he was a therapy dog. She had worked in hospice care and truly understood the benefits of animal therapy.

She shared that she had been drawn to hospice care because her brother had died of colon cancer at 45. Totally taken aback, I quietly said, “My brother died of colon cancer at 47.” We just stared into each others’ eyes. The universe had brought two strangers together for a special moment of connection in this disconnected world.

A Very Copacetic Pack

A few days ago I was walking the dogs in the neighborhood when I saw a disturbing sign. Someone was looking for a home for their French Bulldog puppy because their other dog was attacking it.

Sadly, it reminded me of a time, years ago, when we had a couple of dogs that didn’t get along. It was challenging.

ELBEE For the record, I wasn’t one of them.

On the bright side, it made me incredibly grateful for the way our other dogs have bonded over the years, like Cody, a sweet Golden Retriever and Larry, an incredibly smart Aussie/Border Collie mix. They came together at a very difficult time in our lives.

It was the fall of 1995 and we were living at the beach while our house was being repaired after the Northridge earthquake. Cody had miraculously survived the devastation.

Then my brother Stan was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. After major surgery, he came to stay with us while he recuperated, bringing Larry with him. Cody and Larry connected instantly. When they weren’t running on the sand or wrestling, they sat quietly at Stan’s side or took walks up the beach with him.

My brother fought hard and even returned to work in San Francisco for awhile but lost his battle in the Summer of 1996. That’s when his beloved Larry became our beloved Larry. He and Cody comforted my brother when he was dying and then they comforted us. They were inseparable.

After Cody and Larry left us, Riley, another Golden, was our next dog. He was joined a few years later by his nephew Charley, our first Goldendoodle and my first therapy dog. Since Charley, we have been a Doodle family, adding Charley’s half brother Elbee to the mix.

ELBEE That’s all she’s going to say about me? Hello? I was a fabulous therapy dog.

Even though we had three, when Jack, my mentor at UCLA, called to see if we had room for Gus, a sweet natured Teddy Bear Doodle puppy, who needed to be rehomed, how could I say no?

Eight year old Gus, the only surviving member of that pack, is now part of a wonderfully copacetic pack that includes four year old Goldendoodle Stanley and sixteen month old Pyredoodle Henry. By virtue of his seniority, Gus should probably be the pack leader but I don’t think he wants all of the responsibility. They seem to take turns.

Whether running to greet Doug when he comes home from work, sprawled around us when we watch the Dodger games or simply sitting with their heads in our laps, the three of them offer such comfort and joy. They fill the house with unconditional love.

ELBEE Old people need that.

Thank You Brian

Have you ever had one of those weeks when nothing seems to go right? Word of advice, if you’re having one, don’t watch the news. To add insult to injury, I had a bad hair day and took a selfie in my baseball hat that says, “bad hair day” across the front.

ELBEE She is the queen of bad selfies and why did she do that to poor Henry?

Fortunately, I had a hair appointment and things started looking up. I’m sure I get that from my mother. As a little girl growing up in Syracuse, I still remember her weekly ritual. Rain, shine or snow, but maybe not blizzard, she went for her wash and set. It was before blow drying was a “thing.” It always made her happy.

My hairdresser and dear friend Brian, not only makes my hair look fabulous but he’s also very spiritual and uplifting. Sitting in his chair is like a combination haircut/therapy session. He’s caring and kind with a sense of humor, a winning combination.

Recently he did something for an elderly client that speaks to his heart. The woman had taken a cab to the salon but got so confused when it was time to go home. that Brian decided to drive her. When she was safely in the house, her mind cleared and she thanked him.

Brian and his partner Daniel are both dog lovers and have helped me with socializing the Doods. With the people, noise and distractions, the salon is a perfect place to train them for working in the hospital. Stanley even had an early photo shoot.

A few days ago when I stopped in with Henry, I was delighted to see how comfortable and sweet he was with everyone Actually, it wasn’t his first meeting with Brian. That was when he was only about four months old. What a difference a year makes!

There is a sign on a small table in the restroom of the Syndicate, that I have always loved. It is a drawing of Audrey Hepburn with a quote about empathy.

That sign makes me think about how our dogs function with such pure empathy. They offer a lesson of love for all of us.

What a Difference a Cloud Makes

In case you hadn’t noticed, What a Difference a Cloud Makes is my third title in a row that’s a play on a song. I think the weather made me do it.

ELBEE I don’t know if I’m impressed or horrified.

Speaking of songs, this morning my packet of Truvia said “SHARE YOUR VOICE.” Does that mean there’s still hope for my singing even though I’m tone deaf?

ELBEE No!

I complained so much about the heat, I really want to celebrate the break in the weather. I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to go for a walk with the dogs without having to worry about the hot sidewalk and the sun. Plus everyone seems so much friendlier and happier.

ELBEE That’s because they’re not sweating and on the verge of heat stroke.

For the past few days, Doug has been walking Gus and I’ve been taking Stanley and Henry out together. With two dogs that size next to me, I have lots of interesting encounters.

One man said, “Oh you have ponies.” A couple of people looked a little surprised and said “Good for you.”

ELBEE That was an age crack.

A quiet, older Russian man who smiles when we pass each other, made a heart sign with his hands and softly told me, “I’ve seen them five times. They make me very happy.”

My friend Linda, a true dog lover, was driving by when she saw me with the “ponies.” She stopped and came over. I knew that she had been going through a very rough time and hoped that Stanley and Henry could help.

One of her two beloved older dogs passed recently. Then three days later her other dog went missing. Despite her best efforts, she hasn’t been able to locate him. It’s almost as if he has gone in search of his best buddy.

Stanley and Henry immediately sensed her distress. Dogs may not be able to articulate what they’re feeling, but they are so incredibly intuitive. They began leaning on her and nuzzling her, encouraging her to pet them.

At one point they took a break to wrestle, something they do when they’re really trying to get your attention. Then they went right back to comforting her.

They may be big and energetic but they were very gentle. Henry even gave her a soft kiss on the face. They could feel Linda’s pain and were doing their best to make it go away. There is nothing like the unconditional therapy we receive from our wonderful animals.

Linda put it beautifully when she messaged me, “Kisses to Stanley and Henry, my two healers.”

The Heat Goes On

ELBEE The “Heat” Goes On? Seriously? With her propensity for ripping off song titles, it’s a shame she can’t sing.

This past week, the heat wave seemed endless. The dogs were still hanging out in the bathroom.

Finding the right time to walk them was a challenge. I took Stanley and Henry out early in the morning but kept feeling the sidewalk for fear of them burning their feet.

Gus absolutely refused to go. My husband drove him down to a very shady street for a walk but he wouldn’t even get out of the back seat.

ELBEE If you want to know how we feel in the summer, wear a fur coat and walk us barefoot. You’re welcome.

On Thursday, I was grateful there was a slight cloud cover because I really needed to go into the mountains. Hiking is my therapy and the heat kept canceling my appointments. Using an abundance of caution, I avoided the steep “butt burners,” and went up an easier trail.

ELBEE It wasn’t caution. It was her usual fear that if she had to be rescued, it would be on the news and they’d give her age.

For quite awhile, there was no one else around. It was as if it was my private domain. I felt like queen of the mountains.

ELBEE I think the heat has affected her brain.

After about half an hour, I ran into another hiker and a biker. We were all so happy to be up there, we greeted each other like old friends. The clouds, the gentle breeze and the birds chirping were like gifts from nature. When it began to drizzle we were all so excited you would have thought it was Christmas.

ELBEE I am not even going to comment.

Coming back down and dealing with the afternoon heat was challenging. I was ready to curl up in the shower with the dogs. When it finally cooled off, I went out on our deck to enjoy the evening. As I stood there watching the moonset with the three of them next to me, I felt a sense of peace. Maybe it wouldn’t be 110 degrees forever.

We’re Having a Heat Wave

ELBEE That title makes me feel like singing but it’s too hot.

The recent heat wave almost makes me miss the blizzards we had when I was growing up in Syracuse…almost. It’s tough on the Doods too. They’ll walk to the door when they need to go out and then just stand there when they realize how hot it is.

In the house, they gravitate to the coolest spots. They like to hang out in the shower or wrapped around a toilet.

Stanley and Gus worked last week and I have to say, the perfectly controlled hospital temperature was a treat. At UCLA I drove up to the valet so we walked right into the lobby. Once we were up in our regular neuropsych units, I completely forgot about the heat, caught up in the joy and excitement of Stanley’s arrival.

As we sat on the floor with everyone gathered around us, one boy kept glancing from me to Stanley, and finally asked, “Were you here a few years ago with two other dogs?” Turns out that he remembered meeting Charley and Elbee. Sadly, the kids in neuropsych are frequently in and out of the hospital over time but they all seem to have positive memories of the dogs. Many still have their trading cards.

Since the dogs usually do bring out the best in everyone, I was a little surprised when one of the teens told me he was a bit upset that Stanley was there. Then he laughed and said, “I like to be angry and I can’t be angry when he’s here.”

At Tarzana we had to walk from the garage to the hospital entrance. It wasn’t bad when we got there, but when we were leaving, I was so worried about the hot sidewalk that I carried Gus. One man, seeing me with my arms full, looked at me a little strangely. I nodded to the hot sidewalk and he smiled and said, “You’re a good dog mom.”

STANLEY She never carries me.

In the elevator coming down, Gus had been sniffing a woman’s shoes. Trying to be friendly I had remarked,”Oh, you must have a dog.” I was speechless when she answered, “No. I have a cat and three snakes.”

ELBEE That’s what she gets for being such a yenta!

Who Would Have Thought?

After months of being back to in-person visits with the dogs, I thought that Zoom was safely in our past. That changed last Wednesday when we did a call with the Mattel Youth Ambassadors, a group of high schoolers who give back to others while learning about the medical field.

I was a little nervous when I found out we were going to be Zooming again. My first thought was “uh oh, technical issues,” like the disastrous visit where my audio wouldn’t go on. I immediately contacted my personal Geek Squad in the Silicone Valley for support.

My next concern was hair and makeup.

ELBEE Of course it was.

On the bright side, Henry could join Gus and Stanley on the call.

Once we logged into the meeting, by some miracle, they sat quietly next to me while I introduced them and shared stories about their amazing work. Henry learned very quickly about getting screen time.

ELBEE Two questions. Where is Gus and why is she wearing sunglasses?

When it came to doing a few tricks, it got a little chaotic but was probably more entertaining than watching them do a perfect sit. It was difficult not being able to see the kids, like not having an audience, but as a friend so aptly put it, “it’s like a live reality show.”

Speaking of reality shows, the same day I heard about the zoom call, I also heard that America’s Got Talent was auditioning for next season. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

A few years ago, a “senior” bodybuilder was on the show, looking good but basically doing a non-act. She kept flexing her biceps and yelling “pow.” To the horror of my oldest daughter, who still has vivid and disturbing memories of my bodybuilding days, I kidded, sort of, that I should try out.

Another old lady bodybuilding act wasn’t going to cut it, so I considered adding the dogs. I practiced bench pressing Gus and Stanley for a possible dog/danger act. Then I thought what if I told a joke while I had the dogs in the air.

ELBEE Great idea if she was funny.

Jen, the director of PAC at UCLA, fueled my AGT obsession. During the pandemic, Jen and I did lots of Zoom calls. Before logging in, we’d discuss how we could make the calls more interesting, so interesting that we could audition for the show.

On a challenge from a friend, we did headstands. We tried singing but we’re both tone deaf. Magicians seem to be crowd pleasing but Jen only has one potential trick and I’ve got none.

Last week as we chatted before the Mattel call, I shared a great idea with Jen. From all of my obsessive watching, I’d noticed that ventriloquists have become very popular.

Being a good sport she was willing to give it a shot. For the next few minutes we tried talking to each other without moving our lips. If we can make it look like the dogs are talking, AGT here we come!

I’m wearing sunglasses because I’m so embarrassed for them.

The Doods Love a Picnic

UCLA had a staff picnic last week. Maybe because COVID has prevented such large gatherings, the mood was especially festive. Gus and Stanley, plus their canine co-workers Beau and Pitzel, were in their glory with all of the attention.

Gus was with his special partner “Aunt” Carol.

From the catering staff, to groups from seemingly every department, even to the EMT’s, people were delighted just to see the dogs. Petting and hugging them was a bonus.

When we had the dogs do tricks or model an accessory or two, it was like the icing on the cake.

ELBEE Seriously? Icing on the cake.

As always, even in the midst of so much activity, there were special moments. A man quietly asked me the dogs’ names. When I introduced Stanley, the most soulful look came over the man’s face. He told me that he’d had a very special chihuahua mix named Stanley that he’d rescued when it was older.

He still missed him every day and had never met another dog with that name. I shared that Stanley was named after my wonderful brother who had been gone for years but whom I still missed. We were two strangers comforting each other.

A woman and her teenage daughter came over to take photos of Gus and Stanley in their fancy glasses. Suddenly, the girl began telling me how much therapy dog visits mean to her.

She has a chronic illness that requires frequent infusions that take up to two hours. She said that as soon as they bring in a dog and put it in her lap her whole mood changes. She feels more comfortable and relaxed and has an easier time with the procedure.

A few minutes later, a smiling young man called out, “Nice to see you again.” As I was scrambling to remember who he was, he reminded me that we’d met at another UCLA event a few years ago. Actually, I’m a little directionally challenged and he’d helped me find the event.

ELBEE A little? She used to get us lost in the hospital. It was embarrassing.

I was leaving the parking garage, trying to find the plaza where we were supposed to be meeting. Totally lost, I saw the young man and asked him for directions. Realizing that I was clueless, he took the time to walk us over. He was so sweet about it.

We laughed as we reminisced. Then he told me that he was planning a birthday party for his dog. Seventeen of the dog’s friends were invited. I realized that not only is he genuinely nice, he was also helping out a fellow dog lover!

ELBEE In case you’re wondering how she found the picnic, she stopped at the hospital to pick up Jen, the director of the People Animal Connection, to show her how to get there. She and Carol had to call someone named Siri to get back to the hospital on their own.