A Righteous Woman, Indeed

By Shirley O'Kealey

I've told you about Little Miss Piggy, George's dog, who licked the meringue off J'aime's pies. Now our sweet girl, Diva-dog, has proved she is not above such behaviour. Shan, my darling daughter, is up at 6 am, walking Diva rain or shine, sleet or chilly breezes. A righteous woman indeed, Shan prepares her little lunch, telephones Jake, knocks on my door with any news or reminders ("I guess it's too late for you to take the recycle-box out?") practices on her harp, kisses Diva goodbye and revs up her truck.

This morning Shan left her freshly-made lunch on top of her tote bag by the door. It was certainly not anything I would wish to eat. Shan is a vegetarian. I am not, but seldom get any meat unless I'm invited to a carnivore's home.

Her sandwich: She boils a tofu wiener-dog, slices it in four thin pieces, covers them with a lettuce leaf, placing all carefully on her mayo-slathered bread. Today, oh, piece de resistance! Today she covered it with a Kraft cheese slice - something she rarely buys. This, I believe, is what made the difference as Diva never before has eaten Shan's lunch.

Diva has had a troubled past, is very shy around people, and trusts only two of them in this wide world. She hides from crowds; she used to pee on the floor if a guy came anywhere near. She is clever, (part wolf/husky), quiet, slinking softly away. Dog catchers are unable to corner her and she has given them a merry chase. Anyhow, she is covert, delicate, even dainty, deceptive and seizes the moment.

When I heard Shan shouting and laughing at 6:45 am. I didn't know what had happened. She was saying, "Bad dog!" and collapsing in laughter when I observed, "You wouldn't hug ME if I ate your sandwich!"

"I can't be angry with her," Shan replied." She's lying on my bed and unlike my mother, she'll pee on it. Now, what WILL I do for lunch?"

I tossed her my  bag of sesame-oat snacks and said, "Take these. I love them but they're making me ill. Share them with your buddies."

One last hug for Diva and Shan was gone.

Her previous dog, Kahlua, once ate a bag of chocolate-covered raisins when a friend left them in the car with her. They went off to a movie and were surprised Kahlua didn't die as chocolate is not good for dogs.

Now as Diva becomes craftier and more knowledgeable about the food we eat, we must be smarter about where we leave it. Diva has learned to lie in the kitchen doorway facing the fridge and keeping a close eye on anyone who is working in the kitchen. She and Miss Piggy wait eagerly and long, watching and waiting for action as I often give them each a sardine. Now that sardines are about two dollars a tin, I am rethinking this, sometimes doling out just half a sardine with a little oil to keep them busy. They seem to be just as happy as before. They gulp the food, gulp and swallow it without tasting, making me wonder where is the pleasure in this? It couldn't be that their stomachs are full - not on half a sardine!

My friend says his cat comes to attention when he opens the fridge door, knowing there is a large jug of milk in there. When I was a working mom, I had a cat that raced to put her head in the fridge every time I opened the door, and several times, as I wasn't looking down at my feet, nearly lost her head. I'd kind of like to have a cat around again, though. In the winter, they are warm and cozy up to you and their purring is ever so sweet; in summer they are out looking for mice. What have I got to lose? Well, now that I think on it a little bit, there are vet bills!

I knew there was a reason!