Family gathering

Pappy held still

Every family has its black sheep they say. If this were true and we had to point one out at this family gathering, it would be Pappy. It is not because we don't love her, but somehow if the black sheep demands a lot of negative attention she would be it. Unfortunately for Pappy, two great-uncle dogs showed up that had grace, poise and caused no problem except initially to Pappy. Jon, the new family dog whisperer (Matt taught him) decided they should all, Pappy and the two standard poodles, go outside to duke it out so to speak. Soon they were all running around and enjoying each other, except when Pappy ate their full supply of kibble for the trip which put Pappy out for a day with a tummy ache.

However, she made up for it when she ate Maggie's meal off the table when it was left for a second. Up on the counter licking the butter dish, up on the table when we left the room taking off with the bread, it was not like she wasn't fed. Too many other occasions to list. We took the child's gate from the stairs and put it to close off the kitchen. So we all got in and out of the kitchen by climbing over the gate, hands full of plates and food for the table. We heard she wandered into the neighbor's garden where she found a dead bird under their fencing, proceeded to get caught in the netting pulled it and broke their spinkler system. We still need to make amends. Some of us tried to keep her isolated, but she was also a door opener escape artist. She has lost her privilege to go from the house but we need to repair a breach in the back yard that goes under the deck and out by the back stairs.

Why did most of us accomodate to Pappy? I guess we all know that this is us sometimes. We need someone to show us they care enough to set the limits. Better yet a family gathering, stopping everything, and all together with love take the time to help get someone where they need to be. I hope for the same when I get out of line.

But then, the whole purpose of this family gathering was to celebrate Nan's life. All had stopped everything to travel to this four day event to lay her remains to rest in the ground where she needed to be and gathered around the table for good food as she would have us do. Perhaps it was Pappy that noticed her missing the most and acted out because Nan was not there to slip food to her under the table.