As one may imagine, the silence of my words although gravely remiss has been due to serious factors. The primary reason is the acceptance of a full time rewarding position of employment in September. I would never have believed that returning to the workforce would make such an enormous difference in my sense of well being, but it has. I am a Sales Associate at a very respected and prestigious department store with its flagship store on the Upper East Side of NY City. Every day I work there is a thrill. Wherever my eye rest I see beautiful clothes the likes of which I never see anywhere else. I have even had the pleasure and ability to significantly upgrade my own wardrobe thanks to the generous employee appreciation incentive discounts they offer. I work with lovely people, both co-workers and customers. I won’t say it is always easy and it is not exhausting at times for me, but overall I love it and would not return to being at home with tons of time on my hands mostly being spent alone as a widow. I cannot make a romantic connection of any kind with anyone. I must admit I am grateful for the ongoing attention and interest LT takes in my life and well being, even if he has moved on and is happy. He says he is amazed that I am working so hard and is very happy to see me restored to my former state of health and strength, a way that I was before he knew me, a way I had only described. He had his doubts, but now, seeing it with his own eyes, he says he is very happy for my achievement over being weak, depressed and ill. It is a change so significant it shocks even myself.
On another amazing note, it is not only myself who has made an amazing recovery to a state of former health and strength, but so, too, has Jelly. This is the most amazing of phenomenon. In May, she was diagnosed with chylothorax, a fatal canine disease. I waited for her to pass all summer, but it was not to be. She simply remained stable and then gradually grew
stronger. My beloved Girl did not die after all and is still here with me. It only proves what I believe in life, that we are all in God’s hands after all. It does not really matter what a veterinarian says at the end of the day. Destiny will run its course, and the life of a creature with it. So, here, in the dark, cold month of December, I will not complain because it is very cold outside and I am exhausted for working all day, because I came home to find Jelly waiting for me, happy to see me, and to eat our dinner together, and wanting for nothing else. Getting Jelly in 2015 caused me a great deal of expense and complications to my life but I would not ch ange a thing about them, becauase having her here has been worth everything because she makes me so happy.
The only dark spot on my horizon is the near one year anniversary of Tresor’s death. Jelly even played a positive role in his life, being here when he was returned to me, making his last years happier ones than they would have been had she not been here. Borzoi need other borzoi. Jelly is totally independent but Tresor was not. Her presence bought him great comfort. Only good has come from bringing Jelly into my life. She is a good and sweet little borzoi in every way. She brings infinite blessings to me every day she lives.
I know, many years ago, going on thirteen, I lost a much loved puppy bitch named Opal which brought me much grief. I never thought I would feel another dog could be as close to me as she was or could ever hold her special qualities. Today, many years later, and having lived with Jelly for some time, I have to say that Jelly has in many ways given those special and dear qualities that I lost when Opal died back to me. It is really difficult to articulate this, because Opal truly was so special and dear, but Jelly does so much to make me happy and is so good. I owe her the credit of the complement that she is so like Opal, more than I could ever have imagined any other borzoi or dog could be.
Opal