In my Thanksgiving post, I shared how grateful I was that Gus and Stanley had been allowed to resume in person hospital visits. I was overwhelmed with joy at all they were doing in the month of December.
Still, there was a part of me that worried every time I heard how quickly the variants of COVID-19 were spreading. Then last week it happened. The other shoe dropped.
ELBEE Is that the appropriate expression?
I received an email from UCLA that the dogs wouldn’t be allowed into the hospital until at least the middle of January when everything would be reassessed. I wasn’t surprised at all, it was inevitable, but I was truly sad. In a way, it was a fitting end to a crazy year.
To continue on the crazy theme, we had more rain than I can remember in what 
seems like forever. It was welcome considering the drought we’ve been having, but created a few problems as it went on for hours. I received a text from my next door neighbor that a large tree had fallen and was blocking our street. If they hadn’t been out to dinner it would have landed on their car.
And do you know what it’s like to have three dogs who want to stay outside in a steady rain?
ELBEE Excuse me. Then why is she sitting there with them?
When Doodles get wet, they get soaked. It takes a lot of towels to dry them! We had already decided on a quiet New Year’s Eve at home. I just hadn’t planned on doing laundry.
ELBEE Interesting. She did laundry last New Year’s Eve too. Someone needs to get a life.
My husband Doug gets dual credit for this New Year’s picture. He’s already the in-house photographer. Now he’s the stylist. When I suggested the Dollar Store for props, he did so well that I may hire him again next year.
It can be a real challenge getting all three involved but it also brings some much needed laughter. In the chaos of tiaras and boas, they take us away from everything happening in the world. They add so much joy and comfort to our lives.
My hope for 2022 is that they will be back at work, doing what they do best.
Happy New Year!
