love – Kevin the Lemon

I love others. I love dogs, I love people, I love kids, heck, I even love cats. EVERYONE! I haven’t met a face (or tail) that I didn’t want to know better. Mom took note of this very early on. There’s this process, or maybe a better word would be a display, to how I attempt to greet a new friend. I sort of arch my back, wag my tail profusely, my ears fall flat to my head to the extent that they are lost in a pile of fluff, and sometimes, just sometimes, I shout in excitement. This is my reaction to anyone and mostly everyone, consistently. Whether they want to be my friend or not; I want to be theirs.

Now that I am all healed up from surgery, I am allowed to go on walks around the neighborhood to meet new friends. Mom said daycare was a good idea too. This is mostly because everyone at home works and schools during the day. Even though Scrappy and Lola are home, it doesn’t mean they want to be “pestered” by me. Mom kept telling me I was going to meet a whole slew of new friends both the furry and peoply type when I went to daycare. How exciting! She said I had to take a test. She also said she knew I’d do well, she just knew it.

Then came testing day…

Mom and I were locked in a room with a window. Mom filled out some papers, then lifted me to see what was on the other side of the window. There were all sorts of big dogs running after balls, lying in front of fans, and tugging at each other. This is daycare?!? Why don’t they just call it “Lie Down and Die Because All Your Dreams Are Coming True”? A woman walked in, they talked for a long time (they clearly knew each other). Then the woman grabbed my leash and escorted me through another door. I was hesitant. I put on the breaks and mom tucked my fluffy tail under my body and gave me a push. The lady picked me up and the door closed. Where was I heading? I didn’t like it. The lady carried me the entire way, but once she put me down, I was in a new room with a menagerie of dogs and puppies. They were my size and there were also human friends – two of them.

HOLY COW!!! I was overjoyed! I checked out every dog in the place. Some barked a lot, some were sleeping, some were playing, and a person girl was carrying one. I introduced myself to everyone with a sniff to the face or rear, in my usual “how you doin” posture. I met some interesting individuals. One guy snapped at me, Meany! One guy sniffed me back, another watched me, and then….

I found her. I think she might be my new best friend. Her name is Charlie. She is also five months old, she is black and white all over, and a pittie mix. The only sad part about that is that if she gets too big or too rough she will be sent to the big dog room and we won’t be able to be buddies anymore. Too sad to think about, back to today.

I sniffed her, she sniffed me back, I pranced, she followed, I stopped, she stopped. When Charlie took a break to scratch an itch, I helped her, she didn’t mind the help. This is going to be the beginning of something wonderful. I can feel it!

I gave everyone a chance today. Every. Single. Dog. They were all given the same opportunity to accept or decline my friendship. I certainly wasn’t well received by everyone, remember the guy I told you about? Meany? I learned quite a few lessons today.

Not everyone will like you. That’s OK. I am going to repeat this simply because it needs to be understood. Not everyone will like you and that’s OK! I am authentically me and that might not be everyone’s strip of rawhide. This guy in class not being my friend didn’t affect the fact that I had a great experience. It also didn’t affect the fact that I still made a friend. He didn’t like me, so what?!?
You have to give everyone and I mean everyone a chance. If I stopped at Meany, I wouldn’t have met Charlie or anyone else for that matter.
Once someone shows you who they are, believe them. Meany is clearly a good guy, he passed the same temperament test I did. There was something about me that he just didn’t like. His nip was a warning; if there is something I know, it’s you only get so many warnings before the explosion. So I believed him. I believed that he would be aggressive, he told me, and I listened. He showed me exactly who he was and where I stood with him. Listen to that warning, or red flag, or whatever you call it.

Today, well, it wasn’t a bust. I walked away with a new place to play, a few new friends, some freedom from home, and some pretty incredible lessons. Oh, and after daycare, the naps are amazing. Who could ask for more?!? I can’t wait to go back!

Mom is constantly taking photos of me. She puts a handful of treats in her pocket and then instructs me to “sit” and “stay”. There are also times that I am going about my daily shenanigans and suddenly one of these distracting objects comes snapping shots in my face. Mom says Boy used to be the subject of all her pictures, but he turned into a “major ham” and candid, real life, in the moment pictures just weren’t a thing she could get from him anymore. I am her new muse. Let’s be honest, while I am easily distracted, I am definitely not phased in the least by a camera in my face.

The most exciting part about all these pictures, is that I get to share them with people. People I know, people I don’t know, people who look at them because they appreciate keeshond beauty, people who are interested in my history, people who just think I am cute, people who think I am hilarious (this one mostly), and so many more people around the world, who for whatever reason, choose to look at me, and my pictures.

I recently went in for surgery. I posted on my social media that I was in need of some good luck wishes. My doctor is incredibly capable. He is an orthopedic specialist (he fixed Frankie’s leg), so the well wishes weren’t because I didn’t have faith in him or his work. They were because we were nervous, all of us, I mean, I am a lemon. I also asked for well wishes because I believe in the power of the universe. What we put into the world we get back. I am not religious, so it wasn’t asking for some higher power to look after me, nor am I superstitious. I just think vibes, feelings, emotions, and energy fill the world we are in and radiate around us.

The support and prayers and well wishes were on a scale I could not have even imagined. Mom was flabbergasted at the response. Emotional really. People checking on me in the following days was also very overwhelming for mom.

The lesson here…

You have the ability to touch people. For the people that sent me all their positive vibes, I have clearly touched them; it might be my toothy smile, my defect, or simply that they are amazing people. I don’t know, but they cared about me enough to respond. They cared enough to ask for updates. THEY CARED! For Mom, the caring mattered. she knew she cared, but had no idea that so many people had such space in their hearts to care for a stranger’s lemon puppy.

You have the ability to touch people. You have the ability to change someone’s day. A smile, a kind word, a prayer to the universe, or God,or whatever you believe in, can make a positive difference. Stink eye, a grimace, an unnecessary opinion can create a void in someone’s day. For better or worse we carry that power. That’s scary, right?!? Personally, I think using this force to make someone else’s day a little brighter is the direction I am taking. I am going to consciously take that direction everyday. I want to put into the universe, what I want to receive back, and I have that power. So do you.

** WORDS FROM MOM**

I just want to send a special thank you out to all the kind, warm-hearted, positive people who reached out to send their encouraging energy our way. You, my friends, are appreciated more than you know. I was a nervous wreck (even with seeing doggo surgeries on an almost daily basis). You all helped me, and Kevin of course, get through this worrying time. I brought Kevin home knowing he was in need of surgery, not knowing how sick he’d get early on, and that he will continue to be slightly defective, because that is just who he is. So anytime he is going through something, I get a little worried knowing that he is that puppy who will likely take a turn for the worst. Worry is a horrible feeling, the unknown is equally as horrible. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for radiating your uplifting energy to us. You supported us in our time of need and worry, and we came out better for it (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). Hugs and love to all you kind souls! Thank you!