Actually it’s quite possible you don’t know me – but you know Ivory. Tons of people walk up to us and say “Hi Ivory! And hi… there.” Perhaps if I had a floppy right ear and a tail that never stopped wagging I’d be more memorable. Ivory is an old, old soul. A bodhisattva. If you spent half an hour with him – especially at the river – you would know just how true that is. Ivory is really, really old. He’s about seventeen. As my sister Katie told me, “every day is a gift.” Ivory has a big lump on his shoulder and I worry about him. So today we went up to see our outstanding vet Dr. Chris Scotti at Springfield Veterinary Center in Glen Allen. Thank goodness Dr. Scotti was reassuring. There are no promises with a dog that age. But Ivory is not in pain and is, as always, happy. He’ll be back down at Pony Pasture on Thursday morning. For what may be his thousandth hike down there, unless it’s been more than that.

Outside the clinic there is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, standing gracefully in a delicate patch of daffodils, beneath a small dogwood that will soon blossom. What a perfect spot for a Spring picture of my old buddy.

Everybody have a great day,

Love,

Jay and Ivory

Ivory, St. Francis, daffodils – Spring, 2011, Springfield Veterinary Center

Thanks Dr. Scotti – and thanks St. Francis!