R's Big Day

For a recent holiday, I got the Runner a huge gift. It is literally huge, 3' tall by 2' wide. It's this photo of R in acrylic, which now hangs by our front door.

It was funny when we put the print down at ground level, and R met a larger version of himself! I wasn't ready with a camera. R cocked his head in puzzlement.

The Runner and R have a special relationship, partly built on their daily runs together in the forest. Our first wish is that R can simply stand without slumping to protect his elbow that has been painful since he was a pup. Our big dream is that he'll be able to run again.

By the time I post tomorrow, R will be out of surgery. He's supposed to come home on Saturday morning but I'm not certain that will happen. We are being warned that the "Snowbombzilla" headed our way will drop at least 4' of snow on us between Friday and Tuesday. We are also being warned to be ready for 72 hours of no possibility of travel. I'm the worrier in the family - and I'm starting to wonder if it will be a good idea for R to be up here with us if all the roads are closed.

If he does come home on Saturday, we'll be ready for every possible contingency that we can think of ahead of time. I've made a list of things to ask the vet to send home with R, just in case.

Can you tell that I'm getting nervous? I can't help it. I love our black dog.

I am wishing R the tenaciousness of a bobcat. I've always admired bobcats, and I know that R has a similar inner strength as they do. This bobcat recently plowed through fresh deep snow on his daily hunting rounds. Can you imagine how much determination that required?

Shyla knows that her big brother has the strength to get through this, just like she has the strength to fly. I took this photo this morning - that log will be way under the snow in a couple of days.

If, by any chance, this blog goes silent - please don't worry. The odds are high that we'll lose our power. It's supposed to be a heavy wet snow so I expect it. I'm already filling water jugs (the well pump doesn't work when the power goes out), charging batteries, and getting plenty of firewood by the door.

Now, it's up to the surgeon to be on his "A-game", and it's up to us to help nurture R after surgery. Just a funny sidenote - before one of my spine surgeries, they asked if I was ready for anaesthesia. I said "Not yet, I have something to say to the surgeon.". Then, I told him that I needed him to be on his A-game. He promised that he was. He did a great job that day, and I'm sure that R's surgeon will too!

See you tomorrow!