This is Jelly. Officially JellyBean Caper, but you know, if you’re anything like us, the nicknames are legion.
And yes, I know that sounds a bit like the title of an old Batman episode where the villains are planning a candy heist, but we actually mean the kind of capers you eat with smoked salmon or throw in a salad. In case you haven’t noticed, we use food names. (Bean, Olivia, Maizie, Rhubarb) There are reasons but suffice to say, I feel strongly about it.
A lot has been happening – I’m sure you’ve noticed what I mean in terms of the national stage – but that is frankly background to a lot of home/medical stuff in our lives. (The only politicalish comment I’ll make is this: I believe in rescuing animals. I believe in mutts. I have never registered any animal of mine and I have spayed/neutered every one. I have Yorkshire Terriers because I am horribly allergic to everything with fur except them: their fur is more like human hair and thus their dander is also enough un-dog-like that I can stand it. In theory I shouldn’t have any animal, but I balance that concern against the psychological and emotional help they are. I need them. I also need a dog I’m not allergic to, and that is my apologeia.)
Our current (obsessive-level) occupation is parenthood to this small, fast-growing fluffball of cute and joy who also has needle puppy teeth and isn’t shy about using them. She runs literal rings around us and our poor, suffering, elderly dogs who don’t know why the hell we have unleashed this whirlwind into their happy home.
But she’s getting better. Neither of us got a hard nip yesterday! She seems to be realizing that kisses are much better received than those nips. We had a trainer come by for a puppy-session (pre-K you could call it) and inside of five minutes, this dog learned to sit for a treat. She’s whip smart and very alert; she also really wants to fit in and figure things out, so she observes constantly. She’s sociable, friendly, thrilled every day just to be here – she’s a cure to many of our ills, the way only a five-month old puppy can be.
It's early days and right now she’s a great dog wrapped in a whole lot of puppy BS. It’ll pass. It always does. I’ve been here before. Lots of correcting, lots of kisses, lots of cuddles and more correcting. Last night she slept in a bed for the first time in her life. Not the whole night, and only because of difficult circumstances, but that little body curled against mine with utter abandon and ease. Have you ever had a moment where all the stress evaporates and in its place you fill with gratitude? That’s bed with a sleeping, snoring puppy. Four have become five: Jelly is one of us.
So cute!
She’s so precious!