After a ten-day courtship, we adopted this little girl from the city pound in Providence on Monday night. She had been there for just over two months before Andrew stumbled across her posting on Petfinder. Two months is a long time for a dog to have to wait to find a new home.
We weren't exactly planning on adopting another dog at this point--but she fit the criteria we were looking for (if we were looking). I protested the idea at first, but once we started talking about driving down to meet her, I knew this was for real. Why should we put off the things that matter to us? For whom exactly were we always being so practical? Instead, we chose spontaneity and followed our heart--an hour south, across state borders, to a warehouse full of displaced dogs.
After meeting her, we couldn't imagine not rescuing her. Nor could we imagine the alternative. The sacrifices we'd have to make in order for this to work were minor compared to the hand she'd been dealt--and what lay ahead. If she could smile and wag despite her situation, then certainly we could do the same.
On the drive down to pick her up Monday night, the song "I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews came on the radio. The first few verses gave me goosebumps:
So damn easy to say that life's so hard Everybody's got their share of battle scars As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well
It'd be easy to add up all the pain And all the dreams you've sat and watched go up in flames Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain But not me . . . I'm alive
And today you know that's good enough for me Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see Today's the first day of the rest of my life And I'm alive and well I'm alive and well
Fitting words for a new lease on life.
_________________________________________________________________________ © 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space--mentally and physically--to live happily ever after. Extra fur and all.
