Two Peas in a Pod
Three weeks ago I cut off the top of my thumb while I was slicing potatoes with the mandoline (if you read my Chef Chelle blog I was cutting them for the hash brown waffles and why Greg was in the photos making them and not me). Greg had warned me multiple times to be careful and, really, I thought I was being careful.
As I stood over the sink, watching what seemed like endless blood, I kept hoping it would stop so I wouldn’t have to tell him what I had done. But after I soaked a wet washcloth, I knew that wasn’t going to be the case and called him in from the next room.
He cleaned it up, bandaged it, and sent me on my way. Three weeks later, it’s mostly healed and I’m resuming life with my left thumb again. I knew as it was happening that it was a reminder to me that I can rely on Greg to help me. I got so used to not having someone there for help and just trying to do things on my own that it’s been a challenge for me to remember that he wants to be there. And help.
I got a taste of my own medicine yesterday with Chaco, my oldest dog (and, yes, he’s laying on insulation in the photo– it was from the house remodel ten years ago). It was just a normal work day at the house when in the afternoon he developed difficulty with his back legs. This had happened with Nestle, the yellow lab, about a year and a half ago, sending me into a panic and off to the vet. She was fine by the next day so I tried not to panic with Chaco.
Yet Chaco is a somewhat different story. With just a few weeks until he turns fifteen, over the last few weeks his body has been deteriorating and in the present moment he’s still struggling to walk and I don’t know what his future holds. We see the vet tomorrow.
But as he stood on the living room rug yesterday, trying to walk, me wanting to help him, it was a disaster. He didn’t want my help to move him, to give him water, to bring him dinner. He’s always been that way with me– Mr. Independent. I finally walked away and went back to my office (where he could see me from where he stood) and gave up. It was hard to do because I wanted to help him become more comfortable, to do what I could for him, and yet he rejected me.
Hmmm, yes, that was me doing the same thing in the past.
While being independent is important, it’s also important that we balance that when someone wants to help us. They want to be part of our lives, to be there for us. And we’re lucky if we have someone who cares enough about us to do that.
This morning Chaco is laying on the floor on a little rug right here next to my desk.
