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Filed under: Friends, Grief, family, ineptitude, other shit, pets
When I look at all the shit going on in the world–the killings, the injustices, the sickness and death–I get overwhelmed. I don’t get depressed about it, because for health reasons, I had to learn to distance myself from it. I can be concerned. I can be sad that it happens, but if it doesn’t touch me directly, I have to put it in a box, where it won’t take up my every waking thought. Otherwise I will become the woman who is afraid to leave the house, or the anti-war fanatic that travels from protest to protest leaving my family behind in the dust.
When I look at the lives of my friends and family, it is harder to put things into the boxes. Death, cancer, unemployment, relationships. This is the shit that some of them deal with and I thank God every day that my own family is blessed with health, jobs and strong marriages. I pray for those who struggle. I pray for those that suffer. But again, I have to keep it from the forefront of my mind. I cannot give them jobs, or hand them money to make their lives easier. I cannot worry about which of the bills are getting paid, or fix their relationships. It is all too possible that I will neglect my own. I can offer prayers, a shoulder to lean on and a sympathetic ear, but little beyond that.
When I look at these things, I also feel very guilty. Today I went out into the yard–as I do every day–to clean up the poop that my dog considers to be a gift of love. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) he likes to hit the walkway between the house and the driveway. This makes things easier to find, especially when the yard is covered with leaves. I pick it all up and hose down the sidewalk and it’s done. So that’s what I did. Bandit finished his business and sat beside the back door to watch me clean. I bagged everything up and tossed it into the trash can and walked into the house.
Bandit quickly slipped through my legs and ran to his room. That is unusual, because this is when he gets a little treat with a dab of peanut butter. I washed my hands and started to see what was up with him and that’s when it happened….
I slipped on the way out of the kitchen. I caught myself before I could fall, and looked down to see why I had slipped. There it was…
A BROWN SMEAR.
Luckily for me, I kept a remnant near that door so that mud wouldn’t get tracked in. Little did it occur to me that something other than mud would be the culprit! It was almost on my NEW CARPET! I took my shoes off, cleaned up the spot and looked out the door. There on the top step, right in front of the door, he had pooped and I hadn’t seen it. He had known what he did and he ‘grounded’ himself.
I wrinkled my nose at the smell that still slightly lingered and a thought came to my mind.
“Thank God that this is the only shit I have to deal with today.”
8 Comments »
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HoosierGirl said:
on November 22, 2009 at 9:46 PMGreat punch line!!!
J.
Metalmom said:
on November 22, 2009 at 11:45 PMHoosierGirl-Oh but ain’t it the truth!
teri said:
on November 23, 2009 at 4:42 PMI’m the same way, I can’t even read or watch the new because it’s so depressing. It only makes me depressed and bitterly angry.
Thank god he didn’t poop on the new rug. That’s always the case.
Sybil Law said:
on November 23, 2009 at 8:02 PMI love that you put it into perspective, but I’d have killed him.
Ha! I kid.
Cute that he ran and grounded himself!!!
Metalmom said:
on November 23, 2009 at 9:19 PMteri-When I watch the news, it’s usually something so retarded as the lead story…Sports, politics or a celebrity. When it’s serious, it’s gut wrenching. (And so far,so good. I still have a spot free carpet! *Knock wood*!)
Metalmom said:
on November 23, 2009 at 9:21 PMSybilLaw-Oh he grounds himself frequently. If he tracks mud or brings a stick from outside into the house, he hides because he knows better. He’s really too smart! I can’t punish him…hims too cute!!
Robin said:
on November 24, 2009 at 9:29 AMI’m so glad all the shit in our lives is in one box but then there is the wonderful vomit gifts.
Metalmom said:
on November 24, 2009 at 10:50 AMRobin-*sigh* It would be so much easier if I could train him to use the toilet….or a litter box!! As for the vomit gifts? Thank God I don’t get those!!!