According to the World Health Organization, there is a parallel pandemic of emotional and psychological issues. The difficulties, demands and downright craziness of life over the past year have caused stress, anger and anxiety to name a few.
ELBEE Someone has been listening to the news.
Everyone I’ve spoken with lately agrees. The numbers are getting better but COVID is still taking a toll. Even writing isn’t the same without our in person hospital encounters to draw from.
Walking with Gus and Stanley, I’ve seen some real “signs” of it. This one, which wouldn’t have been out of place on a ranch or in a private forest, was on a neighbor’s lawn. Hunting, fishing and trapping?
ELBEE The only fish in the area have names like Wiggles and are swimming around in bowls.
This week, on Ventura Boulevard, a busy street in the San Fernando Valley, things were not the same either. Despite the fact that there’s more traffic and some businesses are starting to reopen, I sadly noticed how many storefronts were empty.
Restaurants are offering outside dining but the general mood seems to be spilling over. As happy as people are to go out to eat, they’re tired of the safety measures 
like masks and social distancing.
I was kind of surprised to see this sign in front of a family friendly sushi restaurant in an upscale outdoor mall. Then I realized it had probably been posted out of a sense of frustration.
As always, when things are difficult, I turn to the dogs. It’s very calming to have them sit and listen to me without judgment.
GUS & STANLEY We’ve been working overtime. And to be totally honest, we do judge just a little.
When we’re out together, I invariably encounter more positivity. A couple walked by and told us to “enjoy this beautiful day.” A woman shared that she’d been exhausted but seeing the dogs had given her some energy.
A young man said that Stanley was the cutest dog he’d ever seen. Another called Gus an “adorable giant marshmallow.”
GUS I have mixed feelings about that. I’m kind of sensitive.
On Friday we did Zoom calls with the kids in neuropsych at UCLA. I put the dogs in their business casual ties and threw in a few accessories like hats and glasses. I had them do tricks. We played silly games like “who wore it best?” I told myself that it was to engage the patients but to be honest, it made me feel better.
This came home to me even more a short while later when we did an iPad call with a very ill young woman waiting for a transplant. The nurses said that she was depressed but loved dogs.
I was so thankful for those few minutes with her. My problems temporarily faded away as I watched the dogs bring comfort. As difficult at it was for her to speak, when she tried to share a word or two, I felt overwhelming gratitude.
