To begin with, at what point are you considered old? I have no idea, but let me just say that Lamyra Dowding has a young spirit. But I think at ninety something, old is not an insult. And I don't mean it to be insulting, it's just a catchy title. Is it not?
The first time I envisioned house sitting for the wonderful Dowding family my imagination took flight. I imagined like you read about in books, befriending wise older people who teach you wonderful life lessons. What I didn't bargain for, was three very yippy little dogs. Chihuahuas to be exact. I've met three other dogs of this particular breed in my life. One, by the name of "Baby"...but this dog was no baby. She was the devil incarnate. She loved my father, and no one else. I was bitter with jealousy, and this dog would appear to be so friendly when my dad was around. It was all just for him though, I couldn't even get this dog to like me on its' deathbed. May she rest in peace. The next one, was Little man. Same owners, but completely different dog. He was shy and friendly, and always looked very concerned about something. He liked cats, but after being beat up by a few he grew a phobia of them. The last was owned by 95 year old Elsie named, sweety? I don't know. It was missing teeth and very personable.
Very odd that the Dowdings own all three. Haha. Risha, or Ricsha? Pronounced (ree-shuh), is white and frail looking. quite tiny with a bat face. My least favorite chihuahua face. I believe she is the oldest, and most spoiled. I describe her as a princess, although her name means feather-brained in some language. Apparently, if you read books you give your dogs cool names. PONCHO!! Blonde, and adorable. He's big for a little dog and simply adores people. They tried to give him a regal name, but on a joke they called him Poncho and it's been his name ever since. He wouldn't respond to anything else. And last but not least, Dita. The youngest of the trio, and in my opinion, the instigator. She causes the barking, causes the excitement, and is very VERY jumpy.
Saving the best for last. Lamyra. Upon first being told about her I was worried about "sitting". Carol and Dave assured me that she was not feeble, and incapable of doing anything herself. I sort of, to my shame, didn't believe them. After meeting this feisty woman, I realized she was probably better off than I. She doesn't want to slow anyone down, or inconvenience a soul. But upon meeting her, and serving her in any way, how can you not love her? She is so kind, and very grateful. You must insist if she doesn't want you to stop what you're doing for her. I love getting her like that. She says, oh finish your food and I'll need you for something. She gets a little mifted that I simply leave the food and follow. I pretend I'm a little hard of hearing, when she tells me she really doesn't want me to get up. *giggles to self. She can see for miles, but can't hear unless you're yelling in her ear. And she is under the impression that Travis is always offering her food. She could use a little meat on them bones, and in her defense we do offer to make her food a lot. Those dogs only disturb her if they bark for ten minutes straight. You can almost time it. I have no doubts that she would be alerted if a burglar showed up. And I have no doubts he'd be ripped to shreds. Dita is a biter. Risha is all bark, and Poncho will love/lick them to death.
I enjoy my morning visits, although last time we house sat we had the ability to visit and stay for a few hours. My family is in town, so we usually tend to the poochies see if Lamyra needs anything and then get out. Of course we water the plants. I write this, because we've moved out of the ward. So every Sunday we'll be in the same church building, but going at a different time. Cultivating friendships is like a flower, some you can just leave alone, but you'd rather make sure you nourish it so it doesn't die. I only hope we can continue in this. And, I hope we're first on the list for house sitting appointments. Carol and Dave are too nice. They're lucky we're nice too, and honest. But I'm sure they'd get sneaky suspicions if we weren't, so good thing we are.
Also I wrote this, because one of you said I could write a pretty witty narrative about my Dowding escapades. Although, it's not as witty as I would've hoped. I feel too witty can be a bad thing.
Good day
-Heather
EDIT: In regards to comparing Risha to "the devil incarnate 'Baby'" I must include a few facts. All these dogs are lap dogs, even Risha will hop onto an empty lap if you are sitting. But she may not let you pet her. After experimenting with my the firmness and gentleness of scratching behind her ears, she grew on me. Now, she will let me rub her belly and at one point I stopped petting her head and she collapsed instantly into mush begging me to scratch her little pink belly. It was quite adorable, and I think she'd like anyone if everyone pet her gently. I think it's the body shaking rough rubs that make her seem like such a grouch. In fact, Travis can now pet her, and she let my mother scratch under her chin the first time she met her. Which was today. I didn't feel it appropriate to bring my family over to someone else's home. It's like having a house party when you're parents aren't home. The dogs happened to be outside and I told my mom to gently scratch Risha's chin and she didn't understand how I compared her to Baby. Go figure. I took a photo in case Carol and Dave don't believe my far fetched tale of Risha letting me pet her belly. HA! Evidence!!
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