Incredible Sunday Spring spin

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

Dover Church, as viewed through my bike wheel. What a ride. What a day.

An amazingly wonderful Spring spin – spectacular.

I rode 68 miles last Saturday, 9 April. It was cold and damp and I was out of shape and I struggled every pedal stroke. The today’s ride (Sunday, 17 April) was different in every way. It was a lot shorter, only 30 miles. But that wasn’t a big deal. The weather was stunning, I felt great, the scenery was beautiful, it was fast and wonderful and every moment was a joy. That’s why I ride long distance. I just love rides like that. I love it even more when I feel that way on 68 mile rides. Which I will, very soon.

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I work with interesting people

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

They remind me daily to enjoy each moment. They don’t often think about what’s going to happen in the future. They don’t think a lot about the past either. I’m very fortunate to be reminded so often. It’s a crucial skill for a happy life – stay in the moment. Be present. Pay attention. Appreciate what you’re doing and the people you’re with and the place where you are. What a treat. They have so much to teach.

One of the guys I work with is 12 years old and loves to swim outdoors. The outdoor pool opened at ACAC on April 1. His enthusiasm is infectious. Yesterday (16 April) was our first opportunity. We took it. It was sparkling clear out, sunny, breezy, 68º. Which if you’re dry is a very pleasant temperature. And the water in that pool is pleasant as can be. I would guess 80º or higher. Really, really comfortable. We jumped in and swam for a long time. He would have stayed until dark. Finally we got out. It was startling. But very, very invigorating – let’s just say it reminded you just how alive you are. Wow. Thanks buddy – I would never have done it without you. Look how beautiful that pool is:

Swimming outdoors in April! WOW!

Another guy I work with loves trains. I love trains too but I wouldn’t really take the time to look at them. But together we found an incredible place where CSX freight trains stop for extended periods and you can walk right up to them. I get to take some fun pictures. We see trains down there nearly every week. I got this shot a couple weeks ago.

GE AC4400CW

If you’re interested, this locomotive (CSX #590) is a GE AC4400CW. 4,400 HP. A typical train down there has two of these on the front pulling ~100 loaded aluminum coal hoppers. Each hopper holds ~100 tons of coal. 10,000 total tons of coal on each of those trains. They’re typically on their way to Newport News. I think they export a lot of that coal.

It’s easy to find the locomotive type. There’s a website called rrpicturearchives.net. You just look up the locomotive number and it tells what it is. Then google it (or look it up in wikipedia). It’s fun if that’s what you’re into. As I said, a couple of guys I work with are seriously interested in trains. So I look them up and learn about them and tell the guys all about them. It’s an education for all of us. I also have a fascinating collection of essays by John McPhee called Uncommon Carriers. It contains an essay called Coal Train. McPhee rides a coal train just like one of these from the Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming to a power plant in Georgia. I read another book called Coal Trains – The History of Railroading and Coal in the United States. So I can tell these guys great stories about the trains they’re seeing. It’s just so much fun.

In other news (mentioned in an earlier post), Alex brought home a great new cat earlier this week. His name is Sinatra because of his lovely blue eyes. We’ve had him shut in a bathroom for the first few days so he could get acclimated to the sounds and smells and rhythms of our home. This afternoon we brought him out to the den and put him in a big cage so the other animals could check him out and so he could check them out. He is making himself at home very, very quickly. He’s only a year old or so. Friendly and well-mannered and an intelligent, fast learner. We’re now up to three cats and four dogs – I think that’s our limit! But Sinatra’s a great guy. Here’s a picture from this afternoon. In a second. I’m also going to use this to demonstrate what is (to me, to my inner nerd) the “miracle” of retouching a digital photo. The flash was on so Old Blue Eyes became “Old Red Eyes” in the first shot. I used a very simple feature from the software that came with the camera to correct it. Look at the second shot. Incredible. Anyway, take it easy, have a great day,

Jay

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A friend mentioned earlier she was “drunk on lilacs”…

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

…and it’s very easy to get that sensation. I am surrounded by them. So as usual I’m overdoing things a little. I just went in the yard and took this picture; they look stunning and smell heavenly. They won’t be around long, so it’s important to enjoy them while they’re here. That’s good to keep in mind for a lot of things. I hope you have some near you:

Another lovely white lilac

It’s a lilac riot:

You just cant have too many lilacs

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Lots of plants, a few animals, a Special Delivery from Amazon:

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

I got a package from Amazon a day or two ago; imagine my surprise and delight when I opened it and found this handsome boy inside:

Special Delivery

Perhaps it was sent to the wrong address but I’m not sending him back!

Later that day Alex asked if she could bring Sinatra (a.k.a. “Old Blue Eyes”) home from work. I trust her judgment; Alex knows great pets. Look at this handsome guy!:

"Old Blue Eyes"

The lilacs are blooming extravagantly in the yard. These pictures are not too bad. But if you’ve ever smelled a big, lush lilac, you know something as mundane as a photograph leaves a great deal to be desired. This is one of my big white ones. This is also a day or two before full, glorious bloom. I’ll post one later in its full majesty:

White lilac

This is (forgive my stating the obvious) a purple lilac. They’re in a little more sun than my white ones so they’re farther along. I don’t love this shot either; I may put up another one in a future post:

Purple lilac

My dogwoods are a little shaky, but they’re always nice to see as Easter draws near. When it comes to understated, elegant beauty, dogwoods have few rivals:

Dogwood

Another spring favorite is a redbud (Cercis canadensis). I took this picture last week at Pony Pasture. I wish I’d done this lovely tree more justice. I’ll put up a better one in a future post. One fun thing about redbuds is you can eat those pink flowers right off the branch. They don’t have much more flavor than iceberg lettuce. And they’ve probably got about ten calories per pound. But it’s cool to be able to eat them. I think it’s about as organic as you can get. There’s nothing like this at Whole Foods or Fresh Market or Martin’s. No packaging, no shipping, no advertising. See food. You see it, you eat it. Of course if everyone did this there would be no redbuds left, so perhaps they are better appreciated with the eyes than with the tastebuds or the stomach.

Years ago – every year from 1995 until last spring, in fact – Ivory and whatever other dogs I had would camp on the Appalachian Trail west and a little south of Charlottesville. We did it in the snow a number of times. And in the rain more times than I care to recall. But in April the redbuds always bloom on the trail. I’d grab big handfuls off the trees and gobble them up as we hiked along. If I live to be a hundred I’ll always think about camping on the Appalachian Trail with my pals every time I see a redbud.

Redbud

Speaking of my buddies and hiking, a kind fellow hiker snapped this picture of the four of us at Pony Pasture Sunday morning. Notice Ivory up there in the left hand corner? He’s tired of posing. He came to hike. Max has some strange swelling on the right side of his chest. My excellent veterinarians [Springfield Veterinary Center] cleaned it up and he’s on antibiotics while we wait for it to clear up. It’s my distinct sense it causes me a great deal more anxiety than it causes him.

Pony Pasture hike (again!)

Also earlier this week I planted two cherry tomatoes (my sister calls them “garden candy”) and two big tomatoes. Plus a cantaloupe and a pumpkin. I’ll get some pictures up when they (hopefully) bear fruit. I’m also going to get a few sunflowers in. And we’ve got basil and of course mint. I started some lavender from seeds in mid-February. They’re struggling a little but a few of them look good. I’ll keep them indoors until they really assert themselves. If they haven’t begun to thrive by early or mid-May, I’ll just go up to Southern States and buy some already growing in a pot.

Has everyone heard of this simple and knee-buckling-ly delicious summer salad? Four ingredients? Slices of fresh tomato, whole fresh basil leaves, slices of mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar. In July, when it’s sunny and sweltering and humid. The weather that humans loathe and tomatoes love. Leave a ceramic bowl in your refrigerator. And some fresh mozzarella. Take the bowl out and slice some of the mozzarella into it. Pick a few of your tomatoes and a few leaves of basil and rinse the dust off. Slice the tomatoes and put them in the bowl with the cold mozzarella while the tomatoes are still warm. Throw a few basil leaves on top. Pour some balsamic vinegar on top. Sit on your front steps in the sun and be okay with a little sweat on your forehead while you savor that treasure one astonishing bite at a time. The worn out expression “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” will not be on your mind. Nothing will be on your mind but the flavor. I wish this hadn’t come to mind. I don’t know how I’m going to wait three months to experience this. But the anticipation will only make it better.

I’ve been slow getting this post up. I’ll do another one soon. I always enjoy this so much. Maybe I’ll do a pure chocolate post some time. Wow. Maybe I’ll start the research right away. Anyway, something to consider. Have a great day,

Jay

White lilac 2

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Days like this, I don’t even know where to begin – Monument Ave 10K & more

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

…so I’ll work backward. Even though I’ve still got a big afternoon ahead. And what I am sure will be a fantastic Sunday and an even more exciting Monday. So many  astounding things just keep happening, right out of the blue. If it weren’t so enjoyable – and relaxing at the same time – it would be tiring. But it’s pleasant. It is really, really pleasant.

It seems unusual, even from my perspective, which I’m aware is often unusual to start. But Alex and I met my friend Ed and did the Monument Avenue 10K here in Richmond this morning. Which was, as I posted on my facebook page just before Mile 2, a “10,000 meter celebration.” And I mean that sincerely. From the moment Ed and Alex and I walked and rolled across the starting mats until the moment we crossed the finishing mats 10,000 meters – and 2+ hours and many, many, many great people and dogs later – it was a non stop celebration.

Allow me to digress. Years ago I read a book by the late David Foster Wallace called Everything and More – A Compact History of Infinity. In it I learned something that now seems obvious. Take any line – 10 inches, 10 million miles, any distance. In today’s case, take a line 10 kilometers long. That line can be divided into an infinite number of points. Here is what I learned – imagine the distance between any two of that infinite number of points. Even that distance can be divided into an infinite number of points. On the 10,000 meter long line Alex and Ed and I walked and rolled today, every point was joyful. Days like this are so rare. They are so priceless. Just one adds indescribable value to a life made up of many, many, many days.

But I begin this post after we crossed the finish line. Alex and I went most of the way back with Ed, then headed for our car. While walking we passed a little store front at 119 E Main Street. The name of the store: Lavender’s Cafe and Specialty Shoppe. Seriously. There were a few people inside, all employees. I think it is employee owned and operated. We met Norman – the Creative Design Chef – and Shelley, the Catering Coordinator and Manager. We also met Brenda, a natural sales person if ever there was one. I’m glad I only had $10 in cash instead of my credit card; I probably would have left with the whole store. I was cold and I wanted hot food and a cup of coffee. I also needed to use their restroom. I left the $10 in Alex’s wise care while I used the facilities. I got an enormous cup of coffee that would put Starbucks right out of business. I got – can you believe this? – a cup of Lavender Lemonade. Incredible. After your first glass you will wonder how you will ever find anything to match it again. Right now you are perhaps thinking “How can this guy’s day possibly get any better?” That’s what I was thinking. Until Norman brought out a bowl of his hot, homemade collard greens. If you have walked in shorts for 2+ hours in the damp chill of an early spring morning, it is precisely what you want to eat. I could have curled up and taken a nap right there. If Norman hadn’t topped himself yet again. With the one item that anyone who knows me is aware I am constitutionally incapable of refusing. Home made chocolate. No, that is not a misprint. None of this is. I might even think it was a hallucination or a dream but I’ve got all the wrappers and cups and cards and pictures to prove it. So, I – Jay McLaughlin – walk in shorts for 2+ hours with my friends on a chilly spring morning. And on the way back to the car I find – for the first time in my life – all in the same place – coffee that’s better than anything served by that big chain. Lavender lemonade. Seriously. Who knew? Hot home cooked collard greens. And home-made chocolate! If I’d walked across that finish line and someone said “what would you like to find on your way back to the car?”, do you think I could have imagined this? Could you have imagined it? Another thing about me, if you know me at all, is that I’m fond of repeating (ad infinitum) “you can’t make this stuff up.” Seriously – is fiction ever this incredible? No way.

Lavender Cafe

Plus – look at the three of them – it’s like they only hire models at this place or something. Besides being nice, and being great cooks and sales people and hosts, they’re all beautiful. I think maybe there was magic today. They look like that, and they make lavender lemonade and collard greens and home-made chocolate? Maybe they’re angels or something.

Lavender’s Cafe & Specialty Shoppe    119 E Main St.   Richmond, VA 23219   804.385.3741 7 AM – 6 PM – Mon – Sat

On to the race start – Ed, Alex and me:

Alex, Ed and Jay - Starting Line, 2011 Monument Ave. 10K

A few miles into the walk we met Adele, a 10 week old Weimaraner, a new competitor in my ongoing favorite-dog competition:

Adele - a 10 week old beauty!

Here she is giving me a kiss, knowing that will boost her in the competition. She knows that when pretty girls kiss me I’ll do anything they ask:

Adele kissing the judge:

A while later I came across a woman holding this great sign:

Every day IS a bonus!

This is their website; check it out: http://www.cjstuf.org/

Anyway. What a day. Now I’m off to a friend’s house to watch VCU play Butler for a spot in the NCAA championship game! Have a great day,

Jay

Postscript: It’s now evening and unfortunately the Rams ended their gallant charge toward the championship. But I had a superb time at my friends John and Donielda’s Final Four party. Tons of great people, nice kids, nice dogs, beautiful home, delicious food, a wonderful afternoon. Next year I hope to be in the same place, watching the Rams play for the National Championship!

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Too Much Fun (II)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

April 1, 2011 – no fooling!

First – I have to brag – sue me – my superb friend Ivory’s book “To the Rescue” by Elise Lufkin and Diana Walker is now available as an e-book! I just downloaded it from Amazon! Now I can read it on my iPad or my iPhone – or better yet, show it off – any time I want! It’s an amazing, moving story. I love to read it. If you’d like to download the e-book from Amazon, just click on the link To the Rescue (a.k.a. “Ivory’s book”). It’s also available as a Nook Book from Barnes and Noble! I’m so proud of him. For those of you who perhaps have not already picked up on that. It’s also available in hard cover. I think I have about ten copies.

"Ivorys" book - To the Rescue by Elise Lufkin and Diana Walker

Friends of mine are visiting from southern France for the Monument Avenue 10K. On Wednesday evening we met for the first time at The Tavern. I hope they enjoyed their meal as much as I did!

Dinner at The Tavern

It was drizzly and cool that night. We stopped by my house before we went back to the hotel to warm up by the fire. Of course Ivory can’t resist making our guests feel welcome. Ever the ambassador!:

Ivory the Ambassador

The next morning we met for a cool, damp hike at Pony Pasture. Preceded of course  by the obligatory cup of coffee at my favorite Starbucks, River Road II, at the north end of the Huguenot Bridge. Many of you know I spend lots of time with people with disabilities. Starbucks River Road II is the most disability-friendly establishment of any kind I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with. The location is superb but the employees, just as at any business, make the experience. Their record for outstanding employees is unblemished in my ten years of stopping there. I work with many children and adults who have a great deal of difficulty putting a sentence together. The people who work at this location always know just what my friends going to  order, and greet each one  by name each time they come in the building. It’s really, really easy to smile when you’re me.  All you have to do is watch the smiles on the faces of my friends. What a life.

Maggie is the current excellent manager. Luke, Lindsey, Merrill, Nic, there are so many great people there. I apologize for the people I’ve left off. Tyler just left for Ellwood Thompson’s and Taylor has now spread the good River Road II energy to Starbucks Stony Point.

Anyway, the three of us are hiking at Pony Pasture. They hardly speak English, and the only French I know consists of oui, bonjour, and please pass the hors d’ouevres. That is to say, our conversation was limited. Then, miraculously, we encountered my old friend Tom. He’s from Holland, worked many years for Lufthansa, and speaks fluent French! This is a picture of us at Pony Pasture:

Communication finally established! Thanks Tom!

And the three of us getting back in the car:

Back to the car

Next morning we met at 8:30 at their hotel and headed for Monticello. What a fantastic time.

My friends visit Monticello

The flowers were stunning. There can not be a more  beautiful time than April to visit that place:

The yellow flowers are most vivid in the early Spring

And ended the day at ACAC with Lewis – showing off his VCU Rams colors at the newly opened outdoor pool! I wish I’d known it was open; we’d have gone for a swim. Next week. Lewis is pretty young and I don’t put pictures of young folks on my blog. But when they’re flying their VCU colors in front of the outdoor pool you bet I do!

Go RAMS!!!

This is the final shot of the day. It’s in here because this picture could be titled “Too Much Fun”. It’s Roux and Mackey sprinting wildly out of the river Thursday morning. Can you see that smile on Roux’s face? That is what two mammals look like when they are having so much fun they can hardly contain themselves. I always want to feel that way. Only warm and dry, preferably. That is pure, undiluted joy. That is precisely what it looks like.

TOO MUCH FUN!!!

I hope you feel this way soon! Only warm and dry!

Namaste,

Jay and my four-legged pals

Posted in Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, People, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q: How is “too much fun” like “too much chocolate”?

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

A: I don’t believe in either one.

When my friend Heidi and her Mom invited me to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with them this fine March morning, it was a whole, whole, whole lot of fun.

Since Heidi prearranged the visit, the folks managing the garden put this up to welcome her:

The folks at the garden were prepared for Heidis arrival

Heidi is aware I am an enormous fan of butterflies. She is also aware it is a bit early in the season for butterflies to be out. Her instincts as a hostess are amazing.  She brought one along just to help me have a more enjoyable visit!

Early Spring butterfly

Heidi’s favorite color is purple. There were purple flowers everywhere. Here’s a beauty:

I’m fond of yellow; there was no shortage in that department either:

Made it through the snow without missing a beat

Heidi and her Mom both know I prefer hiking at Pony Pasture over nearly any other activity. Pony Pasture and Lewis Ginter have a lot in common. I see plenty of these big guys in both places. The first is the head and wise eye of a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis):

For today’s final shot I zoomed in on his feathers; I enjoyed the pattern they made:

Thanks for the invitation and expert guided tour Heidi – you’ve convinced me to become a member! Have a great day,

Jay

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Congratulations Alex!

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

Congratulations Alex!

Three years ago this month my friend Alex moved in here, the latest – and greatest – in a 15+ year string of superb renters. Of course you can always forecast quality potential renters by interviewing their pets – it’s the little known secret of finding great renters. Alex brought with her the lovely and graceful Roux – her beautiful German Shepherd – and the handsome and outgoing Kite – her wonderful cat. Alex has a degree in biology and was beginning her studies to be a veterinary technician. Yesterday she passed her boards! Congratulations!

In the meantime, my great friend Lou turned 75 a few weeks ago – and we haven’t properly celebrated. Today was a perfect opportunity – a joint birthday/graduation celebration. I was the most fortunate of all – I just got to hang around and enjoy the fun! And of course there were four great dogs and two fantastic cats involved in the celebration.

My friend Chanin lives down the street with her husband Chris and their four great kids. Chanin is, as you will see, a talented photographer. So I enlisted her for our graduation/birthday photo shoot. Except for the indoor shots of Lou giving cheese to the dogs and the little movie of Ivory displaying his trademark enthusiasm by the back gate, she took all the pictures.

Since this blog post is about celebration, I will open with a video of celebration made flesh: this is Ivory, at seventeen years old. It’s astonishing. He obviously chose his parents well. That plus two river hikes every week for a decade and a half.

Ivory celebrates

Next is Lou sharing cheese – a favorite food of virtually every canine – with my pack. By the looks on their faces you’d think they never ate. Even Dash (my orange cat) is coming over to find out what’s so interesting. They don’t act this way around me – even when I do have cheese. I think perhaps they’re more interested in Lou.

Luigi, a.k.a. "The Big Cheese"

Chanin arrived a few minutes later and took pictures of Lou and me in the front yard. I’m wearing my threadbare VCU sweatshirt; I’m still celebrating our unlikely run through the 2011 NCAA tournament bracket. Only 8 teams left of the original 68 – and my alma mater is one of them! When we knock off Kansas tomorrow afternoon we’re in the Final Four! Whatever the outcome, I’m proud we’ve made it this far for the first time in VCU’s history. In addition to my ratty sweatshirt I’m wearing my chlorine hairstyle after swimming two miles to begin today’s celebration.

Belated birthday celebration

Then we brought the dogs out. Ivory, true to his nature, is trying to be as close to our guest as possible. Mackey wants to give Lou a kiss. Roux’s a little scrunched up there in front of me; sorry sweetheart. Max is in the background. True to his nature, he’s looking for something else to do.

Jay and Lou with The Pack in the front yard

Alex arrived a few minutes later to continue the celebration. Roux was, as always, very happy to see her. As were the rest of the animals. Mackey is hiding behind me and Max is getting into the action a bit. Finally. Ivory is looking thoughtful. He looks that way a lot.

Alex, Jay, Roux, Mackey, Max, Ivory

We wrapped up with my favorite image of the day. Lou on the left and Alex between us. Ivory and Roux looking off into the distance. Or perhaps there was a squirrel in the front yard. Mackey is practically invisible between Alex and me. Max, finally, as we’re almost done, is beginning to pay attention.

The birthday boy, the graduate, 4 great dogs, 1 person along for the fun!!!

After this we were off to see Alex’s friends and have a snack at Bear Creek Coffee. And, to put all this in perspective, the video of Ivory at the top of this page was Ivory’s greeting after we got home! He was involved in this demanding photo shoot all afternoon and still had that kind of energy! He is so my role model.

Congratulations Alex, Happy Birthday Lou, and thanks to Chanin for the great pictures! And thanks to the dogs and cats for cooperating so well – perfect for celebrating Alex’s successful completion of Veterinary Technician school!

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“A dog is a bond between strangers.” – John Steinbeck

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

Roux, loving life - and so are her two new friends

John Steinbeck wrote a beautiful book in 1960 called Travels With Charley. He wrote about traveling around the US in a camper with his poodle Charley. About  the connections they made.

I’ve always liked having my dogs help me make connections. To be a bond between strangers. I am often inept at making those connections on my own, but the dogs always teach me.

Yesterday (Wednesday, 23 March) I had the rare opportunity to blend two things I love – hanging out with remarkable people and remarkable dogs at the same time. Roux and Mackey and I got to spend time with some old buddies of ours at a residential place out in Glen Allen.

The image at the top of this page is of Roux, a female German Shepherd, maybe 4 y.o., great personality. That’s what happy, relaxed dogs look like. Can you see how she’s smiling? The energy in that room was very, very peaceful. Including me there were six adult males, two in wheelchairs, two with walkers. The guy with the white sleeve is a former Military Police officer and worked professionally with German Shepherds. He is confident and capable and Roux reflected this back. Healthy, well-adjusted dogs reflect our moods to a great degree.

This is Mackey, a male Flat-Coated Retriever, approximately Roux’s age. They’ve grown up together. Mackey’s not as confident as Roux, but he was feeding off the calm energy of the room and he was quite calm himself.

Mackey getting some love

When it’s spring in Richmond, take pictures of flowers. If you’re not looking at them, rub your eyes and start paying attention. They’ll be back next year, but they’ll also be gone soon. Look at them now – they’re here. As a friend once reminded me, “that’s why the call it ‘The Present’”. This enormous forsythia was in full riotous bloom right next to where we parked the car. If there had been two minivans parked behind it they would have been completely hidden. It was huge:

"It was all yellow" - Coldplay

Another shot of Mackey. If you spend time around dogs, you’ll see he’s not as confident or relaxed as Roux. But he’s definitely happy to be there, and the peaceful people in the room are bringing out his inner peaceful dog.

Still a happy boy

Want to see how a dog says “all is right in my world”? Check Roux out. Some of these guys are a little bit teetery and unsteady and Roux knows it. She’s saying look pal, I’m just going to put my belly right here and how about if you rub on it for a while. I’ve done Animal Assisted Therapy in a few extremely intense environments over the past fifteen years – nothing like this place. The more I watch dogs and people interact, the more I am convinced dogs understand the feedback loop that happens here. The person feels great rubbing the dog’s belly and the dog feels great getting its belly rubbed. Sometimes I feel like I’m not even there. Like if I walked out of the room, went out to lunch and caught a movie and came back three hours later, they’d both still be at it.

Trying to relax, always a struggle for Roux!

Do you want to experience a feedback loop? Try being the person who has the indescribable privilege for bringing those dogs into that environment. I have to pinch myself. It’s so fantastic I’m sure it has to be a dream.

PS If you know me and Ivory, it’s no cause for concern that I didn’t bring him along today. He stayed home with Max and took it easy. I’m going to bring them out later to spend some time with another old buddy of ours.

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If you know me, you know Ivory

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Jay McLaughlin

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!

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