Mattiedog: A Little Dog Making a Big Impact in this World!®

Everyday is an Opportunity

2013-05-21T05:12:00.002-07:00

Me & Arrowroot

The other day dadz and I were walking around the property, checking on fence lines and nailing up fallen boards. I sit and watch him, his eyes focused on the curled barbed wire, checking the gaps to make sure it is attached to the weathered split-board fence. We walk over a few little hills, I wander about sniffing the arrowroot flowers growing in the mounds that surround the barn. "Bubby-flowers," that's what momma and dadz call the arrowroot - one of my nicknames is Bubby - why they named this flower after me is curious, dadz says it's because their bright yellow color reminds him of my fur when the sun shine's on me.

Dadz grasps the barbed wire in his gloved hands and pulls the wiring tight in an attempt to reconnect it to the fence, and minimize the space between the posts so the mule deer don't get in and nibble on our newly planted vegetable garden. Momma's proud of her vegetable garden. "I can make salsa anytime we want," momma said to dadz in her effort to establish the need to have a garden...and to get dadz to till up the land. Dadz didn't seem to understand momma's need to grow things that she could go down to the store and buy, but he ended up tilling the land, planting the seeds, connecting the hose that waters the garden, and pretty much everything else to make momma's garden grow.

No matter how many times dadz tries to reconnect the wiring, it pops off of the fence. He grips the wire and tries again, "This had better work this time," dadz mutters to the fence while he twists the wire and looks at me. I use my eyes to convey, "I can't help you dadz, I have no thumbs!" I think he gets what I'm saying because he looks back to the fence and continues to twist the wire and reconnect it to the splintered wood pole that holds the fencing in place.

After about eight attempts, and numerous colorful words, dadz sits down next to me - he slips off his worn gloves, placing them next to me. Dadz hand touches my back and I can tell we're going to settle in for a little spell of 'watch the world go by.' "Well, Mattie, the fence doesn't want to work with me today.... lets sit here and think about this for a while." By 'sit here,' I know that dadz really means to lay down in the cool shade of the big tree and rest a while. "The fence will be here tomorrow, everyday is an opportunity," said dadz.

I think about that. Every day is an opportunity, dadz is right. It's an opportunity to be with friends or make new friends, be joyous or create joy, be thoughtful to others, help someone, laugh a little bit...or fix a fence, or try to fix a fence. And, every day is an opportunity to lay under a tree and watch the world go by - without a worry, with your dadz. I like fence fixing days. I hope you find a fence that needs fixing, it's not important that you fix it, just that you put some time in to trying - and that you enjoy the journey.

With lub,
MattieDog

To Everything Turn, Turn, Turn

2013-04-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

Mattie & Stuffy

Today, with the rays from the morning sun shining bright in to my bay window, I am going to spread out all comfy on my pillow, prop my head up on my blanket and take a look around the world outside.

Life is perfect and I am content!

The warmth of the sunshine soothes me and so I sprawl out, basking in the warm glow of the mid-morning sun and peer out the window just in time to see the mailman walk up the sidewalk and make little deposits in to the mail slots of my neighbor's doors. Curious things, mailmen. When he reaches my door he sends a few envelopes through our mail slot and I lift my head a bit and watch them drift down and settle on the wood floor below. I hear the scamper of dog feet skidding along the floor and so I flip over on my side to get a better advantange, and watch my brother Spike, a little Chihuahua, tear up the mail...curious that he feels the need to attack the mail. So I watch for a while, until Spike's aggressions subside.

The sun beams grow warmer, heated up by streaming in through my bay window. I like the feel and I stretch out on my tummy to look outside just in time to see Max, my next door neighbor's cat, gingerly meandering through my yard...leaving her paw prints in the morning dew of my grassy lawn. Max likes to walk over and sit just right outside of my bay window and peer up at me. I peer back at Max through the window, slowly wagging my tail to signal my pleasure at seeing her. In return Max flicks her tail and grooms herself a bit, and after a while continues on her journey of walking through my yard...leaving a trail of her paw print marks as she strolls through the dewy grass.

This is what Tuesday's are made of - pleasurable things. Moments not to be disturbed.

The morning lazily turns in to the afternoon. Laying on my little sun-warmed doggy pillow I look out my bay window to contemplate the day - what to do? Out of the corner of my eye I catch a little tiny creature stirring in the sill of my bay window. It's a fly coming back to life after it's long winter's nap. *Flap flap flap,* it's little wings start working. I tilt my head a bit and watch as the fly starts to get his energy back, trying to fly...he only has enough energy to bonk in to my paw and flutter back to the windowsill.

Curious little fly. I watch him for a while. Back and forth he zips and bounces along the windowsill, trying with all of his little fly might to get airborne...but all he does is continue to bonk me on my paw, and sometimes my forehead. I'm not really bothered by the little fly, we all have to do our thing.... like the mailman, like Spike, like Max, and like me.

It's good to have a purpose. Today I'm going to lay on my warm doggy pillow, looking out my bay window and watch the world twist and turn, and change all around me, and I'll be happy and contented!

With lub,
MattieDog

The Meaning of My Journey

2012-11-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I've taken a little time off from writing. Mostly it's been due to my health - it is declining and I am getting older, and well, time has mostly been spent sleeping and reminiscing with my momma and dadz. That's the way it is supposed to be, a journey, a travel through this little world where we meet people and animals and engage in something magical - loving others and allowing ourselves to be loved in return. Connecting.

Mostly, I've just been busy being me.

All of us are called to this wondrous planet for a reason - the truth of which we can either simply see and revel in, or we can struggle...regardless, the journey occurs every day, and we are on it, whether we accept our path or not. I have accepted my path. It's a good one, mostly filled with miracles. It is miraculous that I get to spend time with our neighbors, make friends on my walks, get dirty rolling around in horsie dung, meet other happy and playful dogs, snuggle with my neighbor's cat who sneaks in through my doggy door and confiscates my little bed, bark at the seals as they peak their noses up through the cresting waves of the cold water; and be a comfort to my little human companions as they walk through their cancer journeys.

The meaning of my journey - why am I here? Because the world needs joy, the world needs love, the world is better because I am in it. Why are you here? Simple, the world is better because you are in it. The true meaning of life is the simplest of things - to experience the joy of love. You do not have to see your path, but you do need to feel it - your heart will lead you, your passion will touch you, and in return you'll feel fulfilled by each step you take along your path.

A while back I joined by dadz as he visited his friend Vince. Vince was getting ready to pass from this earth, he had metastatic pancreatic cancer and had elected to stop treatment. Dadz asked Vince if there was anything he could do for him, anything he could take care of for Vince. Vince said there wasn't really anything, that he had peace - however, he wanted to listen to Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World while he looked out his bedroom window, gazing in to the Puget Sound. Dadz and I went to Vince's house every day for a week and, while I joined Vince on the bed, dadz would sit on a chair, pull out his guitar and sing to him. Vince would smile and slowly fall to sleep. Vince's family gathered, and everyone came together to sing. Vince's journey was complete.

As I travel forward in to the remainder of my journey I am at peace - I have joy in my heart and am surrounded by love. I am thankful for all that I have experienced. I hope each of you are thankful for your journey and feel the true, unique, blessings you experience and contribute to - you are a miracle!

With lub,
MattieDog

Happiness Is......

2012-04-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I went for a long walk with my momma and a friend. The day was sunny, the sky was blue, small little while puffy clouds drifted by and there were lots of things for me to sniff. I was happy.

Some people think it takes a lot to make them happy. 'If I had that car, that man or woman...." that thing that will hypothetically complete us and somehow, magically, make us happy. Looking externally for what should come from internal knowing. Dogs don't do that. While we desire a good juicy bone every now and again, all we really want is to be loved and the opportunity to love in return.

Sometimes me and momma help out at a women's shelter. Momma helps wash clothes, make the beds and prepare food. I mostly sit and greet the women entering the shelter. All of the women are really glad to see me. They stoop to pet me and give me little apple treats, and in return I wag my tail at them and tilt my head to-and-fro, being cute in hopes of getting extra loving.

I always look forward to seeing Molly, one of the pseudo shelter regulars. Molly lost her job, and as a result her house and health insurance. Molly mostly makes ends meet by taking day jobs. Molly has high blood pressure and uses her pennies wisely to pay for her medications. But Molly also gives some of her hard earned money to the local animal shelter. Not a lot, but it's a lot to Molly - and in return all that Molly asks is to be a volunteer and walk the dogs. So after momma finishes her shift, me, momma and Molly go down to the animal shelter and walk some of the dogs. Molly likes the big rowdy guys, and momma and me stick with the smaller little fuzzy pooches, and sometimes I like to just watch the kitties. Then when the walk sessions are over, we all pile back in to momma's car and take Molly back to the women's shelter where she showers and rests for the night.

Saturday was the last time I saw Molly. When we dropped her off at the shelter she turned to me and gave me a big hug and rubbed my ears - and then she looked at momma with a big smile and said, "thank you for caring about me." Molly was happy.

Recognize that the simple things, those genuine moments of connecting with someone or something are all you need to be happy. I am happy and I wish happiness for you.

With lub,
MattieDog

More About Me

2012-03-18T16:28:00.002-07:00

Recently, my good friend Michelle (@GrrlySquirrel75 on Twitter) tagged me in a post on her blog in an order to learn more about the sweetness that is me. So, because I dig her, I will tell you a bit more about myself (and maybe you'll return the favor and tell me more about yourself in the 'comments' section):

Describe yourself in seven words: Smexy, loving, caring, silly, self-deprecating, hungry, and fun!

What keeps you up at night? Other than my siblings, not much. But sometimes they, my fuzzy siblings I mean, are just plain crazy. In and out the doggy door...bark bark bark at the moon....jumping on and off the bed. Dang em! But, other than that... not much keeps me up. Except when dadz comes home late from work and he has some tacos from the food truck!

Who would you like to be? Me! I mean, come on - look at me, I'm fabulously fuzzy and well.... oh, you mean other than me? Well, my momma thinks I'm a reincarnated Buddha!

What are you wearing right now? Nothing, I'm a commando-style sort of dresser! But, sometimes I wear little sweaters, and other fun, dress-up, stuff. You can see more of my dress style here.

What scares you? Not much, I'm a pretty relaxed little doggy. But sometimes I've gotten scared by my own toots (can you believe that!!).

The best and worst of blogging: Oh, I love blogging! The best - sharing life through my perspective. Dogs have a pretty good lens on life, so I like sharing things from my point of view. The worst... probably getting my momma to type my thoughts-sometimes she needs a good poke or two to motivate her.

Last website you visited: Um, lets see.. that was Twitter, just so I could check out what's going on.

One thing you'd change about yourself: Nothing. You can't change one thing... it's a circle, one thing trickles to another and another and then ends up changing things you hadn't intended to change.

Slankets or no? Probably not, unless it makes a nice blanket for me to curl up and snooze on. I don't need sleeves... but I think they look comfy!

Tell us about the cat/person that tagged you: Michelle is a sweetheart! She is kind and generous, and sends me great tweets full of love. She's always positive and wishing me the best, and she calls me her 'sweet tater'! What could be better than that!

Well, that's it - I hope you all enjoyed learning more about me! Like I said - please share more about you in the comments below!

With lub,

MattieDog

Selflessness is a Squeaky Orange Mouse

2012-03-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of toys and depending upon my mood I like to play with one, some, all, or none of them. So, I like to keep them strewn throughout the house. I have a wicker basket that momma picked out special for my toys. "Mattie, lets pick up your toys," says momma as she bends over and picks up all my toys. As she picks each one up, turning to toss them in to my toy basket, she will occasionally stop and stare at me. I almost sense she is trying to tell me something...something to do with helping her. But, I like my toys throughout the house...I just never know when the mood will hit me to play with my squeaky duck, or my one armed bear, or the flat chewed up post man.

So, I ignore her; and she mutters something as I walk by her and go lay down on the sofa.

Recently, on a trip to go visit the children at the cancer hospital, and before we got in the car, I trotted over to my toy basket and grabbed my little squeaky orange mouse. Squeak, squeak! The squeaky mouse accompanied me on my rounds as I visited the children. Mostly I dropped my squeaky mouse and the hospital staff end up being the care taker to my little toy while I wandered around with the kids. Eventually I leave the squeaky orange mouse on the floor of the toy room.

There's this one little girl who also comes to the hospital on the same days I visit. She reminds me of sunshine, her hair all golden and her skin so translucent that she almost glows...I like to call her Sunny. Often times I meet up with Sunny in the toy room...mostly because she tolerates her treatments well, and she likes to play with the toys. Sunny is a sweet child with a kind demeanor. She always makes sure that the other kids get their play time with me and that each receives their sticker for petting me nicely. Sunny is the first child to enter the toy room and the last child to leave it at the end of the day.

Momma is often late to pick me up from my visits, but she knows she can find me in the toy room with Sunny. At the end of the day I lay down and watch Sunny as one by one she picks up the little toys, carries them over to big toy chest and places each one gently in to the chest for the night. Sunny sings, and wiggles her little arms to and fro, her little golden hair bouncing about as she skips around singing and picking up the toys. Sunny picks up my squeaky orange mouse and places him next to me. She seems so happy, so content to simply collect the toys and put them away.

Just like every other time before, momma comes to pick me up and greets Henry, one of the hospital staff members, and together they come in to the toy room--momma to gather me and Henry to close up the room and take Sunny to the waiting room where she'll meet her parents. And, even though it happens every time he comes in to close up the room, Henry looks around the toy room and says with genuine surprise, "Wow Sunny, you are such a sweetie, thanks for cleaning up the toys!" And Sunny always responds, "I like to help," giggling she takes Henry's hand and waves bye to me with her other hand, and walks out of the waiting room.

Momma bends down to pet me and I look around the room a bit and think about Sunny...and her approach to helping out. She did it because she liked to help, because it made her feel good, and her selfless acts made others happy. Even though Sunny was a sick little girl receiving cancer treatments she still thought of others...and did things to make life easier for them.

Momma stopped scratching my head and reached down to pick up my squeaky orange mouse. I quickly bent my head and grabbed the little rubber mouse *squeak squeak* and carried him in my mouth as we walked out to the car. Through the whole ride home I kept my little squeaky mouse by me in my car booster seat...and when we got home I carried my squeaky mouse in to the house and placed him in my toy basket, right next to my stuffed Curious George.

I sat down next to my toy chest and looked up at momma...she was smiling down at me. A soft, gentle smile of thanks.

When you have the opportunity to take an every day moment, and through kindness, make it special for someone...do it. Be selfless.

Whatchu Talkin' Bout Willis?

2012-01-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Well, that's what he said anyway. Who's he? He is my dadz. Dadz took me to my most recent grooming visit, where they bathe me, and then blow me dry with this super cool machine, and end it all by trimming my nails. My grooming visit, scheduled by my momma, just happened to be on New Years eve. This is how it went....

My dadz friend just opened a pub in the neighborhood where we live, right across the street from my groomers. The pub specializes in micro brews, where aside from guitars and music, this topic rates fairly high as a basis of discussion for my dadz and his friends. So, when momma said, "Mattie's grooming appointment is on New Years eve," dadz, knowing that he could meet his friends for some fun, happily said, "Oh, I'll take him," momma was a bit suspicious, but didn't say anything. New Years eve came and around lunch-time dadz took me to the groomer and then walked over to the pub to meet some of his friends for a burger and a beer, and some billiards.

Me, I was all happy at my groomers. She uses some great organic shampoo with a special essential oil blend that my momma picked out for me. I get to float around in their big hot tub, which is more like a warm tub, bubbles all over the place and I have fun dog paddling around a bit until my groomer says, "scuba dog, it's time for your blow dry." Then, after my bath, my groomer, her name is Sandy, puts me in a little kennel that has warm air blown in it from all sides - it's like a huge, box-shaped, low-volume blow drier and I'm in the middle of it, just feeling all toasty and snuggly as I get softly dried.

In the mean time, back to the pub, dadz was playing pool and enjoying his beer with his friends. While at the same time Sandy was putting the finishing touches on me, waxing my chin-fur in to a perfectly quaffed foo manchu, and then walked me over to the pub to meet my dadz and his pals. Dadz friends are all excited to see me, and I even get a french fry for looking so suave.

Sandy, picking up a pool cue and nailing a shot, asks dadz, "are you all ready?" Dadz, thinking Sandy is challenging him to a new billiards game, says, "you bet!" And, at dadz response, Sandy puts down the cue, puts on her coat, takes my leash, and says cheerily to dadz, "lets go!" Dadz, puzzled, says in his best Gary Coleman interpretation, "Whatchu talkin' bout Sandy?"

What dadz didn't know, and momma neglected to tell him, was that after I was done getting groomed momma had agreed to help Sandy down at the local food bank--we were going to pick up some meals and hope to find dog and cat food so we could take to some of the people who had signed up for the free food delivery. Dadz, a bit started to learn that he had unwittingly volunteered for this duty, let alone to find out that some of our neighbors needed help, quickly recovered and asked his friends to join in. The meals were covered, but it was the pet food that was in short supply. My dadz friends, eight in total, went out and purchased big bags of dog and cat food, and together we made the rounds, delivering our goodies, and making this New Years Eve special....

Special, not for the individuals who received the food, but for my dadz and his friends. Dadz said it was his best New Years eve ever, and he didn't need to wish for anything in 2012, that he was truly blessed. When we got home, dadz didn't say anything to momma, just walked up to her and gave her a hug. I watched them for a little while, and then walked over to the fireplace, snuggled up in my doggy bed and took a nap.

That was our New Years eve! Hope yours was just as wonderful!

Lub and blessings,
MattieDog

A Test of Wills

2011-12-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

Every day I wake up really excited, looking forward to my breakfast of sweet potato. Lately, I've been progressively waking up earlier in anticipation of my tasty breakfast...Momma seems cranky about that. Dadz on the other hand doesn't seem to notice, he sleeps through it...Momma seems cranky about that too. I sleep on Momma and Dadz bed and in the morning, when I'm hoping to encourage someone to get up and feed me, I like to roll around, wiggle to and fro, and then come within inches of Momma's face, staring at her until she opens her eyes. Hello! I say to her in my Mattie-like way.

She always opens up one eye and peeks out at me.

I'm all smiles, tail wagging.... Momma pulls the covers over her head in response.

I'm not daunted. I happily take my paw and gently pat her face, or at least what I think is her face...hard to truly tell because her face is all blanket covered. Pat, pat, pat. She pulls the covers down and stares at me. Unphased, I'm all smiles and I stare back at her, all happy with my fluffy little tail wagging.

"Mattie, go back to sleep," she mumbles and rolls over. Sometimes, in the morning, I think that's my name..."Mattie, go back to sleep," on any given morning my Momma mumbles that to me about 5 times. I think she's hoping I'll go back to sleep, but I can't be sure.

My best guess is that she needs more encouragement. So I always walk to where Momma's rolled over to on the big bed...I dig around in the covers until I find her head. I like digging in the covers and so this is one of my most favorite morning rituals - dig, dig, dig!

She uncovers her face, and even though it's still nearly pitch-black in the bedroom, we have a stare down. I'm all happy, wiggling with excitement - hard to tell what she's feeling, Momma gives nothing away, just stares at me.

We are having a test of wills. We do this over things other than breakfast as well - space on the couch, bath time...mine not hers, cheese left overs, and sometimes just because the mood strikes me to have a good old fashioned stare down.

But this morning, like all mornings, I've got a plan - happily stare at her with joy, joyfully stare at her with love, focus all my positive energy into my stare and wiggle with sheer delight. I am determined to summon all my mental energy, package it in a bow of joyous love and to 'will' her to get out of bed and make my breakfast. Just like every other time I take this approach, her resolve crumbles and Momma gives in - she wakes up and makes me my glorious sweet potato breakfast.

I gleefully eat my treat, and promptly return back to the big, warm bed to snuggle next to Dadz for a nap - leaving Momma out in the living room on the sofa.

The moral of the story: Sometimes, when people are being cranky or set in their way, they likely just need your help - be persistent, smile, wiggle a bit and motivate them to be the great person you know that they are!

Much lub and blessings,
MattieDog

I Give Thanks

2011-11-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

On a fairly consistent basis, momma say's it's important to remember the things for which we should be thankful. My great grand father, my momma's father's father, was a very blessed individual. He was a kind and gentle man who was loving and nurturing to everyone he met. I'd like to tell you a story about him.

My great grand father came to America as a little boy who picked fruit and vegetables. As a little boy he made money for his family. That's how things worked then, my momma tells me. His name was Bardamano, Bard for short. Bard came to the US from Mexico, a little boy who was left abandoned, frightened and outside of the foster system.... there wasn't a foster system for him to go through.

Bard grew up working for a living, not going to school, or making little friends. When we was in his late teens the owner of a mill, in the town where he lived, took a liking to his work ethic, and asked him to come work for him. Unbelievably, this was a hard decision for Bard. Leaving his family and all that he knew was not what he was raised to do or believe in; but, according to my grandfather, he did it because he wanted to give his family a chance at a good life. So, Bard left his family and went to work in the grain mill, where he quietly made his way up the ladder....not in a large way, but small incremental ways that provided him and his growing family with enough to live on.

Bard lived a quite life. He had a family. My grandfather was one of his children, and my momma remembers going to their home for holidays...gatherings that were filled with good food and happy times. It was a good life, and Bard, my great grand father, was happy and thankful to have the opportunity.

My momma tells me that Bard worked hard and made ends meet, and up until he passed she thought that he was "just a good grandfather." She had no idea that he was a great man. A quiet, great man that did great things. We went to my great grandfather's funeral a few years back... I was invited, special, by invitation; and so I went, happy to accompany my momma.

Bard's funeral was well attended by hundreds of people. We were sitting at his funeral when, one by one, people took turns coming up to the microphone to share how Bard changed their life, and how they were thankful for him. Throughout the years, and without telling anyone, Bard would take 20% of his income and buy food and school books for the migrant farmers that still lived in his little town. "It didn't matter if a child was from Mexico or Russia, it didn't matter" said one speaker, "Bard gave....Bard went to every child's graduation."

My momma never knew. Her father never knew. The family never knew. Bard did this quietly. But, I knew.

Every year, without fail, my grandfather would ask my momma to send me to visit...and, so my momma sent me. I would go with my great grandfather, and together we would visit the migrants. "Perro," my great grandfather called me, and so Perro I was when I was with Bard. Together we'd make the rounds, provide food and visit the little school where the children would learn the tools they needed to grow and contribute. My momma learned about what we, Bard and me, did together, at his funeral. My momma sat silently and hugged me and softly wept.

"The Perro Fund," said the speaker in to the microphone at my great grandfather's funeral, "was set up by Bard to continue funding the ongoing education of 5 students a year who go to college." What my momma didn't know was that Bard asked my dadz, who is a financial controller, to help him create an education endowment to establish and fund scholarships for five local children's college education. All funds paid, they just return upon their graduation and contribute back to their community.

Bard, my great grandfather, was a beautiful man. He quietly changed the world. I am thankful for him and for the love that he showed us all.

Much lub and thanks,
MattieDog

Giving Comes Full Circle

2011-10-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

There always comes a time that equalizes. For all the times you gave, you'll need. For all the times you need, you'll be able to give. For the times when you've hurt and received comfort, you'll be able to provide comfort in return to those that need comforting. This I know because it often happens to me.

Most of you know that at least two times a week I get a bath and go visit the little kids receiving chemotherapy. These days are special to me because no matter how busy my momma might be at work, we've made a commitment to help ease the pain of others. I like going to see the kids - they are fun and sweet, and sometimes their outlooks get better and they experience joy, if even for a little bit, while I am visiting.

Lately though, things have been a little hard for me. My kidney values have gotten a little bit higher and I tire more easily. It's part of my journey. I wasn't born with stellar kidneys. Most of the time I'm okay, but just lately, well, I've been feeling a little less happy, a little less Mattie-like. So, on Tuesday when it was my time to go visit the kids, it wasn't surprising to my momma when I just didn't wiggle like I normally do. I rolled over on my doggy beg and stayed there. Momma knew. She said, "Oh my sweetheart, you just rest and I'll call and let them know you can't come today." So with that, I snuggled up in my little bed and decided to try and go back to sleep for a while.

I was dozing in and out when I heard my momma on the telephone saying, "No, Mattie is feeling off today. He needs to rest.... you will? Oh great, he'll be so thrilled!" I was sleeping in my little bed when I heard a 'knock knock knock' at our front door. I stayed in my bed, a little tired... having bad kidneys can make you tired sometimes. *Sniff sniff sniff* I could smell little kids! Well, their grubby little hands and their pockets stuffed full of goodies - but still, I smelled little ones and I opened one eye and peeked out from my bed and wagged my tail tall in the air.

My buddies from the cancer ward, those that were healthy enough to visit, came to see me! They were dressed in their clothes, but had little scrubs and face masks on. My friends came to see me! Little Stella and Timmy and even Zack, who according to momma was, "the terror boy that likes to put butterscotch candy in my fur" came to visit! I was so happy! I jumped out of bed and trotted on over to them, wiggling to and fro and received their love and friendly little pats on my fur and kisses on my snout. Stella, Timmy and Zack brought me a handmade card that used macaroni noodles to spell out "Get Betr Mattie!"

Momma cried and hugged Angie, the nurse that brought them over. I didn't waste any time crying. I played with my friends and ate the sliced apple pieces they brought me and enjoyed every minute of their friendship. Love....like all things powerful, is a circle. When you have it, give it willingly - and when you need it, it will return.

I was so happy to see my friends, they brought me such joy and peace. Course, not sure if momma can say the same.... she was all cranky pants when she was cutting out the little pieces of butterscotch candy that Zack had gotten stuck in my fur. But you know what, she was smiling while she was all *snip snip,* so I think it's all good.

I am blessed.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog

A Walk With My Friend

2011-09-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

Every day without fail my dog walker, Annie, comes to visit me. Annie is sweet, and she brings me cookies that she bakes special just for me. "All the other dogs I walk have to eat Mattie cookies," Annie says to me. "You," she says as she gets down on her knees to feed me a little piece of cookie, "are special, so I bake you special cookies!" Really what Annie means is that my kidneys are special, but I don't say anything to her, I just eat the little piece of cookie she has lovingly made for me.

Sometimes when my momma and dadz go for an evening out together, Annie comes and stays with me. I like these times because we go for long walks along the shoreline to a little bench where we stop and sit for a while. I sit in a cool shadow underneath the bench, chewing a bone that Annie brought for me. I nibble at the little bits of goodness left on the bone and watch Annie as she picks up little pebbles and skips them along the clear blue water of the Sound.

When I finish my bone, Annie comes over to where I'm laying down, picks up the remains, and puts them back in her little carrying pouch. This is when she joins me on the little knoll by the bench. We cuddle close together for a long while. I sit quietly, sniffing the salty scents coming from the water, and Annie strokes my back with one hand and rubs one of the left over pebbles she picked up from the beach, with the thumb of her other hand.

After a while Annie, smiling peacefully, looks down at me.

I gaze up at her with my big brown eyes, and offer a little wag of my fluffy tail.

We stay like this for a while, snuggled up on the beach. Just sitting there together, listening to the waves wash against the shore and watch as the sun slowly settles in to the west.

"Come on my friend," says Annie, "it's time to go home." Annie picks me up, gently brushes the sand off of my paws. When I'm all cleaned she sets me back down and off we go, walking back to my house.

Annie use to be an investor working in the One World Trade Center in New York City. You can visit a memorial site designed to honor some of her co-workers by clicking here. After the events of 9/11 Annie decided to change the focus of her life. I'm glad she did.

I love Annie.

With much lub,
MattieDog

No Animal is a Mountain

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

So the theory goes that if you want to do something right, do it yourself.... Whenever I want to bury my bone, or even better, find my bone, I stick by this motto. Dang it, nothing should get in the way of me and my bone. But then, through experiences, most often times, I found myself alone... alone with my bone. Now, don't get me wrong. Bones are great! And, if you have them all to yourself, they are pretty darn unbeatable. But, at the end of the day, you are alone.

My dadz and some of his friends, who, according to my momma are a group of rag tag musicians, recently got together and shared some fun, laughter, and crab delights, out on the beach of Alki... a western point of Seattle. Everyone had their purpose, brought along their gift, so to speak. Some brought their guitars, some their wine from their wineries, and others brought along their seafood. I brought my bone. I joined by dadz on his outing.

I watched my dadz, while I, settled on a shady piece of beach, chewed on my bone. My dadz was with his friends, in his element, laughing and enjoying the summer breezes. He would occasionally pull out his guitar and join in with the others. His voice a bit more wobbly than their highly tuned gifts, but still he was enjoying himself. My dadz friends would switch off instruments, laughing and increasing the joy of the moment. Then when the winery doodz and fisherman friends showed up, the guitars went down and everyone shared in the food treasures that were laid out on the beach.

Me? I stayed in my spot and chewed on my bone.

There were other dogs that joined in the fun.. but they were over there. I was over here... chewing my bone.

I stayed like that, chewing my bone in isolated silence and after a while... well, it wasn't that fun.

Did I love my bone? Yes. Did I want my bone? Yes. Did I love and want my bone at the cost of friendship, frivolity, and joy? No..... so, I wandered away from my bone and joined the fun.

Remember, what you think you have is not near as important as what is available to you. All you have to do is jump in and enjoy!

With much love,
MattieDog

Recognition Helps Spread the Importance of Love

2011-07-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well, heavens to Betsy, I, and my friends Brutus the Dane and Trailer Park Dogs, were just given an honor by Fido Friendly magazine. They selected all of us, and namely our rock band, Da Shibbering Cheetos, as one of the top 50 in the world of dogs (to see photo click here)! That's a pretty amazing thing, particularly since I know a lot of truly amazing animals. I have to say I am honored and truly touched. Particularly as this months' Fido Friendly showcases one of the most active people in animal rights, Ms. Betty White.

Ms. White has "championed the cause of companion animals and wildlife as president emeritus of the Morris Animal Foundation and trustee with the Los Angeles, USA, Zoo—celebrate 40 continuous years on the board." One of my momma's favorite thoughts about being right comes from Ms. White, "“Keep the other person's well being in mind when you feel an attack of soul-purging truth coming on.”

Momma always says to provide people, and that goes for animals too, some grace. By giving someone grace, and not doling out embarrassment, they tend to do the things that matter the most and grow in to a much more enlightened person. Grace breeds grace... like love breeds love. Giving away the things you desire the most, tends to bring an amazing bounty of wonderful things continually returning your way.

Well, now how did we receive this wonderful honor? Basically for all the work we do to raise awareness and funds for animals in need of assistance due to abuse, neglect, or in need of adoption/placement or shelter assistance. For those that may not know, Da Shibbing Cheetos got started roughly two years ago. We were the first rock band to host online/social media rock-concerts on Twitter (via Grooveshark) and ask "anipals" (animal lovers) to join in the fun, and help (through the use of various hashtags (e.g. #dudefest, etc.) to raise awareness, through social media, of animals in need. We've partnered with various groups focused on sparing animals an unfortunate and untimely demise; and recently with PetFinders to create a tweet out of animals throughout the US, to get their faces and stories out to potential adopters. We help spread the importance of spay and neutering, and the adopt don't shop, movement.

So, that's it - the story of four little dogs on Twitter who are trying to make a difference in this world. I hope you get a chance to read this month's Fido Friendly - just so you can see Ms. White's smiling face. She's super cuddly!

With much lub,
MattieDog

Life is Made Up of Special Little Moments

2011-05-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

This morning, after eating my little breakfast treat, I found momma in the kitchen humming a soft tune and chopping up some apples. Apples are good so I sat down and watched her while she went, 'chop chop chop' with her knife. "Mattie, you had your breakfast," said momma, "these are for the horses," and then she placed the chopped up apples in to the horses goody bucket. She scooped me up in her arms, dressed me in my brown sweater, and then out the front door we went to go feed the horses. I like it when we feed the horses because often times that means I get a little extra treat from their goody bucket.

I trotted along side momma as she walked to the barn, the horse's goody bucket swinging to and fro. Jumping over rocks and keeping pace with momma was fun, she always keeps her eye on me; and says, "Come on Mattilda...get those little legs pumpin!" I have no idea why she calls me Mattilda, she knows I'm a boy, but every time she says it she smiles, so I don't mind. As we round the corner to go in to the barn momma puts down the goody bucket and lifts me up in her arms. "Don't want to startle the horses Mat," she says.

As we step in to the barn we see our friend John tending to the horses. John waves a big 'hello' wave to us and beckons us closer to the stall where he is bent over feeding a bottle to a little foal named Dolly. We watch as Dolly suckles on the bottle. Momma's face is all soft and gentle as she looks in to Dolly's eyes. I am quiet, and just twitch my nose at Dolly trying to take in her little horsey smell. She's sweet as she eats. When Dolly finishes her bottle, John settles her in to her clean stall and puts a little soft blanket on top of her.

John is Dolly's momma. Well, not her actual momma, her real mom was named Tulip. John is Dolly's surrogate momma since Dolly's real mother, Tulip, passed soon after giving birth to Dolly. Momma says, "It was Tulip's time." Momma told me she thinks Tulip knew that Dolly would need a momma, and so she went about sweet talking John. John is a big strong farmer who likes to wear bib overalls, and he sings salty songs throughout the day. But every day, without exception, even on Christmas, John takes care of the horses, brings them their food, walks and waters them, grooms them and gives them special treats. Johns makes a good momma for Dolly; and since John's daughter is away at college, Dolly makes a good daughter for John. Tulip was smart and chose well.

Momma gently puts me down on the dirt floor of the barn, motioning me to stay close to her. She gives John a good morning hug and shows him the goody bucket we brought. John smiles and together with momma, and without a word just the soft sounds of the horses tails swishing, they take small pieces of apples and feed the horses. I slowly move with them as they make their way around the barn giving special treats to the horses; and every now and then John or momma leans down and gives me a little piece of apple too.

Everything has its season. Tulip had hers, Dolly is having hers; and together me, Momma and John are having a little season, just sharing in the stillness of the morning. Sometimes a quiet moment, with a sweet slow pace is the most glorious thing you can share with someone.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog

Blessed or Blessing - Either Way, It's All Good

2011-05-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Every couple of weeks my momma takes me to visit some children who are going through cancer treatment. Some of the little ones are very sick, and others don't react to the needles and machines and don't act sick at all. I can always tell when we are going to go see the children because momma picks me up and says, "rub a dub dub, I see Mattie in the tub!" She always sounds pretty happy about it to.

I try to run away from her, sneaking out the doggy door, only to realize, every time like a new discovery, that we have a fenced yard. Momma comes out to the backyard calling my name. She starts off by singing a happy little "Mattie...." and if I don't respond, ends up letting out a sharp-toned "Mattie!" I run around the back yard, back and forth, zooming around..... run, run, run, and then it turns in to fun and I run in to my momma's arms, forgetting that I'm actually trying to run away from her.

When I run to her, she lifts me up high, laughing, and says, "rub a dub dub, I see Mattie in the tub!" Oh no! Next I know she's scrubbing me down, with scentless, shampoo, in the tub. I sulk. Sad-faced in the tub. All wet. But soon I'm out of the tub and being blown dry to my regular fluffy self. "Rub a dub dub..." I'll show her, I think, "next time I won't run in to your arms!"

Soon we're off to the hospital, where I get my little yellow vest that identifies me as a therapy dog. "Apples Only Please!" That's what the patch on the right side of my vest says on account of my kidney problems. And, off I go, to visit the little ones who are waiting for their treatments. Every time I go I see Dr. Nancy, who greets me, gives me a few little apple pieces and introduces me to some of the smaller children first.

I sit with the kids and they take turns brushing me and getting me to do tricks; and walking me around the little courtyard if they are up to it. Sometimes, when their tummies can take it, they eat and I end up with oatmeal, fruit, and often sticky candy goop stuck in my fur. My momma picks me up at the end of the day - she's all smiles, plays with the kids some, and takes me around to say goodbye to the staff. They wave bye and I wag my tail in response.

Momma sings, horribly off key, with the radio all the way home. "You Shook Me All Night Long," from AC/DC seems to really get her going. I stick my head out the window, sniffing the air, and am happy to have spent time with children, and look forward to the fun waiting for me at home.

No sooner do we walk in the door, momma says, "Rub a dub dub Mattie!" Yipes! Not again! Out the doggy door I go with momma chasing after me. We re-enact the morning's seek-and-go-find-Mattie events, and it always end the same...me in the tub, getting the days adventures scrubbed out of my fur.

The day ends, routinely, with me getting blown dry, eating my dinner and cuddling up in a blanket, next to momma on the sofa. "Mattie, you bring such joy to those little ones. You are a blessing to them." Really? I thought I was the blessed one - I get to see their wonderful little faces, their smiles. I get to meet their families, and share in their journeys as the little ones, some times struggling to do so, try to get better. I look at momma, and see that she is blissfully unaware of her error. Sometimes momma gets it wrong, but I won't tell her - I'll just snuggle up to her, content in the knowledge that I am the fortunate one.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog

Gratitude for Every Day

2011-04-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sometime we all wish we were something or someone else. Heck, I often times find myself thinking, "If I was as tall as dat Lab, or as fast as dat Greyhound, or as beautiful as dat Weineramer... I'd be...fill in the blank."

But really, I wouldn't be anything other than me, MattieDog inside that Lab, or Greyhound or Weineramer. I'd be me, MattieDog, only taller, or faster or with a shiny, smooth coat. But at the core, I'd be me, MattieDog. Looking external for whatever it is inside of me that makes me want to be something else really doesn't help, does it. It only confuses the issue.

What would I do if I was taller, that I don't do today? I guess maybe I could grab stuff off of the table...until momma caught me, and then I'd be in trouble. How about if I was faster? Heck, I don't know... I just like watching Greyhounds go zooming by me at the dog park. And a Weineramer, well, lets be honest, I have all the babes I can handle...being more beautiful would just be asking for trouble.

I don't think I really need any of those things... I may want them for a while, but they aren't things I need. When I think about it, I have all that I need. I think I'm doing fine. I think this is a good lesson for everyone... you are just fine the way you are! Don't try so hard, just remember to smile, laugh and enjoy your life. The gift of life is just like a present, enjoy every precious moment... the mystery that unfolds - every day is glorious, just like you.

A simple little story of peace and joy!

With love,
MattieDog

Celebrating Every Day

2011-02-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

About two years ago, my dadz was perusing the Petfinder site, for no particular reason. "I'm stunned at how many dogs, just like Mattie, are out there in need of a home," said dadz. Momma, since she is involved in many animal adoption activities, was, sadly, not surprised by the number of doggies in need of forever homes. It had been 9 years since my momma and dadz found me and took me home from the local animal shelter. But I remember that day like it was yesterday.

Momma and dadz went to breakfast and while they were eating dadz tells momma about a little Shih Tzu that he came across on the animal adoption website. "He's nearly blind and deaf, and is on heart medication," offered my dadz. "Oh, and he's 14...." dadz voice trailed off while momma ate her bagel and sipped her coffee. I sat on the bistro deck, watching them talk and hoping that one of them would drop something on the ground so I can get a little nibble. "You know, he probably doesn't have that long," said dadz, "and, well...."

"You think we should take him in and love him for the short time he has left," offered momma. They both laughed and momma snuck me a little piece of her bagel underneath the table, where I was sitting. "I saw that," said dadz. "Saw what? Lets go look at the little guy in need of saving," said momma. Dadz scooped me up, brushed the bagel crumbs from my chin and soon we were off in our car, zooming back home to see what we could find out about the 14 year old, blind, deaf Shih Tzu.

Dadz called the number listed on the little Shih Tzu's posting and talked with Lori, a super excited lady who could not believe that someone would be willing to take the little guy in. "He has two heart medications, he can't see too great, and well, some other things, but he's got a heart of gold," exclaimed Lori. After dadz hung up the phone, he told momma the story of the little Shih Tzu. "His main caretaker died, and the remaining spouse didn't like animals and didn't take care of the two dogs. He brought them in to the vet to have them 'put down,'" said dadz. "One could not be saved, but this little golden Shih Tzu was, with a little help, fine. Lori worked at the vet and she intervened and took care of him."

Snoozin' Time

Momma and dadz decided no creature deserves, specially after giving a life-time of love, to be treated in this manner; and so, they booked a flight for the little Shih Tzu. The little doggy came to live with us two years ago. Yes, you read that right, two years ago. When he came to us he would barely eat, his nose was dry, he had a number of respiratory infections, and had all but given up. Through the determined love of my parents he lost weight, is off all of his medications, wakes up each morning eager to eat his little sweet potato breakfast; and has little textured rugs throughout the house, and out the doggy door, that helps him get around the house.

Love is an amazing thing. It changes the course of one's life. It bridges the gaps and heals the pains. It gives you a reason to go on....and the recipient learns how to give it back. Love is a gift that once given keeps on returning. Soon we will celebrate OD's, the older little Shih Tzu that came to live with us, 16th birthday. What will we do? Pretty much the same thing we do every day... a little morning treat, some cuddling, a morning walk through the park and then relax until we do it all over again at dinner time. I think this will be the perfect way to honor OD's birthday, giving him the type of love and atmosphere that he can count on. A day filled with love. A day filled with gratitude. Our gratitude for him being in our lives.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog (and OD)

Every Year's Resolution

2011-01-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolutions really aren't our thing. Momma used to make them. "This year I'm going to lose weight.... I'm going to stop using tawdry language when I get frazzled.... I'm going to be the person you think I am, Mattie." These are the resolutions we, my dadz and me, use to hear from momma nearly every New Year's eve. Dadz resolution was always the same, "I'm going to tell people that I love, 'I love you,' more often. I think dadz has the right idea. When you think about it, making a New Year's resolution should probably be something attainable and more-to-the-point, sustainable.

About three years ago, around the same time I was diagnosed with renal problems, my family and I decided to no longer make New Year's resolutions. We agreed to simply re-affirm the resolution that we made to each other when we got the lab results from my kidney specialist. So now, every year, we embrace the same commitment to be a little bit kinder to every human, animal and even plant that we encounter; to be more generous with our hearts and allow ourselves to be observant of the good deeds all around us; to listen to our friends and family free of any desire to guide an outcome; and to laugh often,with an open heart, at all the wondrous, joyous surprises the world has to offer.

I think finding a good path, one that is open and honest and caring with those you love... and sometimes even with those that make you a little crazy, like Sam the Beagle in our neighborhood who howls every night at 10PM, is a wonderful, sustainable New Year's resolution. A special little treasure that you can revisit, and then repackage and re-gift to yourself every year; the constant renewable resource of loving oneself and the world. When you give the gift of kindness to yourself, it's amazing how much kindness you'll find you have for every other creature that you encounter.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog

Simple Thanks

2010-11-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

The other day, on an uncommon Pacific Northwest snow day, momma and I got ready to head out for our early morning walk and then make a quick stop to shovel our elder neighbor lady's sidewalk. "We have to get you all ready," said momma as she snuggled me tight, like a sausage, in my doggy snow suit. "Come on little suit," she said as she struggled with the zipper; and then sang an off-key, and somewhat wobbly version of "Hot Legs" while she strapped on my snow booties.

Waddle, waddle, waddle. Off we went, down our drive way, out in to the gloriously cold and snowy, sunshine-filled morning. I sniffed at the little blades of grass struggling to lift out from the freshly fallen snow, careful to select just the right one in order to relieve myself. Sniff, sniff, sniff... Hey, I thought to myself, I'm pretty sure that Benny, the neighbor's Boston Terrier had already been here this morning!

All the while my momma is talking to me about all that she sees. "Oh Mattie, look! The snow has covered the Miller's squirrel feeder. I wonder if the squirrels will be able to find some food? What do you think Mattie?" Before I answer she is off on another thought. "Wow! Look at the mountains in the distance, they are all covered in snow! Beautiful! Don't you think they are beautiful Mattie?" I look up and... "Lets go see June, you remember June don't you Mattie" Wha? What happened to the mountains, I think to myself. But before I can be sure that we have completed our mountain conversation, momma steers me toward June's house and I listen as she ponders aloud, "I wonder if we should have brought June some scones or something for breakfast."

We quickly make our way across the street and walk up June's back steps. Shovel, shovel, shovel, my momma tossed snow and sang a song while I watched her clear a path to June's front door. As momma finished, June peeked out the front door, laughing a bit and said, "oh my, look at the snow" and warmly invited us in to her little house. We gladly walked in to June's warm house and momma unzipped me out of my snow suit and I wander off, determined to find Roxy, June's tiny 6-pound mixed-breed dog. I hear momma and June's faint chit chat as I make my way over to where Roxy's bed is normally stationed, and sure as it is cold outside, there's Roxy snuggled all warm in her little green and brown striped bed.

Roxy spots me as I make my way over to her bed, stationed securely by June's rocking chair in the antique-filled living room. Roxy's little wire-haired face peeks out from under the blanket she had coiled in to her doggy bed, and I see her white little stubby tail wiggle, slowly at first, back and forth to welcome me in to her home. I look at Roxy and shake my big, fluffy tail at her, a signal that I'm glad to see her; and Roxy makes room for me as I climb in to her doggy bed, cuddling up to her to keep warm.

Just as Roxy and I start to fall asleep both of our little heads pop up from the bed as momma and June come in to the living room. June bends over, carefully bracing herself, holding on to the rocking chair as she stoops closer to us; and pulls out two little doggy biscuit, one for me and one for Roxy. Roxy and I nibble on the yummy gifts brought by June, sharing the little pieces that break off as we chew our morning treats.

June sits in her wooden rocking chair and momma sits cross-legged on the floor next to me and Roxy and gently covers me with some of the blanket that Roxy drug in to her doggy bed. Momma and June softly continue their conversation. My eyes close. I can hear the hum of June and momma's conversation slowly fade as I drift off to sleep, snuggled up to Roxy, and feel momma's hand softly resting on my back. I quietly fall asleep, thankful for this moment.

With love,
MattieDog

Letting Go....

2010-10-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Last night momma went to the store and picked out a wonderful bone for me. It was big and juicy and had pieces of marrow still clinging, lovingly, to the inside. I was excited, and so when she asked "MattieDog, are you ready?" and pulled it out of it's plastic bag, careful to keep all the little bits of meat in tact, I let out a squeal of "Yes!" alerting the world to my joy!

As soon as momma put the bone down in my bowl I grabbed it tight in my mouth & trotted out my doggy door. Me and my bone, my tail wagging big in the breeze, and I was happy. First I went to our deck. It was safe, all dry and high above the ground. I could see everything and anyone that potentially came in to my yard. But then I realized, "Yipes!" I can't see behind me... so I twirled around and checked things out.

But then I though, "Where's my bone?" and jumped up on all fours and trotted back over to my bone. Holding my head up high and feeling pretty good, I strutted around for an hour or so, bone in and out of my mouth, sometimes getting chomped on, but more often than not just getting carried around. Momma would come out every now and then to check on me, tucking her blowing hair back under her hat. "You are less interested in your bone than you are with showing your ownership of that bone," laughed momma.

What? That's crazy. But it made me think. Her words made me ponder. What was I doing, really? Sure I was wandering around my yard...and yes, some might call my actions possessive. But, I loved my bone. Didn't I? I thought about that a bit. I think I loved being in love with my bone. Having something that was all mine. Something that I could call my own, have and be apart from anyone at any time. Ownership. What did I really own? While I thought about this, my neighbor's cat came and grabbed my bone. Now I knew, I owned my bone until something came and took it from me. Dang cat. I want MY bone back!

But, what do you own, really? Did I own that bone? I had it for a moment in time, only as long as I was willing to guard it. Then, I guess, I didn't really own it. The bone owned the bone. I nibbled on the bone for a while, but then the ants owned it, and ultimately, well for as long as I was watching, Catch, our neighbor's cat owned it. But I bet Snatch, the Rottweiler that lives with Catch, ultimately ended up with the bone. For a while anyway.

From what I can tell, you don't really own anything. You simply borrow a lot. Your home, your job, your clothes....time... these things are all borrowed. That's a really interesting perspective. Time, it's borrowed, it's not defined. You aren't an 'accountant,' you account for things... just like you aren't a doctor, you simply care for things for a while. We aren't ever a thing, we don't stop, we aren't solid, and we don't own anything... it all continues on.

Hmmm.... Considering all that, well then, I enjoyed that bone! That juicy bone that I got to have for a while on it's little bone journey. I'm happy I got to share in that little bone for a while. And, I hope Catch, and even Snatch, enjoyed that bone. And ultimately, I hope that you find joy with the things you get to borrow along your journey, just like me and my little bone.

With love,
MattieDog

Super-Powers

2010-09-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

Momma often asks, "MattieDog why can't you clean up the house while I'm at work?" I look at her. She looks at me. I continue to look at her, tilting my head. She looks at me and eventually she concedes, stooping to pick up the random sock that I've dragged out to the living room floor.

Even if I could clean up the house, I sure wouldn't elect to do so. Lets face it, if we were given a super power, cleaning up the house would be fairly low on the list of good versus evil. Super powers... What would you do if you had a super power? Some folks would fly. Some would become invisible. Fly or invisiblity, these two super powers are often the debate of divine super-poweredness.

But, as crazy as momma is sometimes... she also rubs my tummy, smiling down at my face while she holds me tight and tells me, "You have changed my world." I stare at her, curious and wondering, 'What? What have I changed for you?' All the while a little confused. Questioning what could I, a little dog, offer to this person, the woman with the opposable thumb who does whatever she wants.. how could I 'change her life?'

She holds me tight, wipes away a tear of joy from her eye, leans closer and whispers in my ear, "you've made me a better person Mattie." And I know, by the tone of her voice, and the softness of her touch, that this is miraculous for her. I am her miracle.

I am her super-power.

Much love,
MattieDog

Things Are Often Not What They Seem

2010-09-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

This week momma and I have been checking in on a neighbors house, getting the mail and watering the plants while they are on vacation. It was expected to be fairly routine: wake up, go for a walk and on the way home, stop at our neighbors house to take care of things.

When our neighbor, Mary, and her husband Steve, went on vacation they said, "We get our milk delivered so please help yourself." Momma was so excited, "MattieDog, we're going to have some farm fresh milk!" So on the first day, as we rounded the corner on our morning walk, momma started getting all excited, "When we get home we'll have some freshly made biscuits with honey and some of Mary's milk!" But, when we got to our neighbors front door... no milk.

"Oh well, we must have missed the delivery and Mary must have taken it inside before they left on vacation," said my momma, in her some what disappointed voice. As soon as we got home and ate some honey biscuits, our milk mishap was forgotten. The next day we woke early, took our walk, trotted up to our neighbors yard and this time the farm fresh milk was spilled all over our neighbors front porch. I sat and watched as momma sprayed down the milk and cleaned up the broken milk bottle. "I wonder how the milk bottle would have gotten broken," momma asked as she patted my head.

Night passed, and a bright, sun shine filled day dawned. Momma and I took off for our walk and for the second time when we wound our way up to our neighbors front porch, milk was spilled all over the deck. "Why would anyone do this?" asked momma. She looked at me rather puzzled and then cleaned the mess. "MattieDog, doesn't that seem mean...there's no reason for someone to be so mean."

Day four...we had to leave for our morning walk extra early and as we rounded the corner, in the darkness of the early morning, to our neighbors house we saw shapes moving around by the milk bottles. Momma halted, tensed up, and yelled, "Stop!" Four sets of beady eyes turned and looked at us....followed by hissing and my mommas screams. Off she ran, dragging me in tow, to hide behind a nearby bush. She stooped to pick me up and we watched as four raccoons tore the plastic top off the milk bottle to greedily, and rather competitively, lap the milk out of the bottle..ultimately spilling the milk and breaking the bottle, creating a mess on our neighbor's front porch.

After what seemed like an hour, the raccoons finally left. Momma laughed while she cleaned up our neighbors porch. When we got home momma poured out some milk for her, pulled out some freshly made biscuits from the oven and we nibbled our breakfast in the glow of the morning sun rise. "I guess I shouldn't have assumed the worse MattieDog," momma mumbled as she sipped her coffee. I considered what momma said... she thought someone had done something wrong. She assumed that a bad thing had happened, when really, what had happened was quite simple and truly innocent.

Momma's right. Don't assume the worst, most of the time it's not nearly as bad as you might think. Be generous with your heart and be kind with your thoughts... and don't forget to put your milk where the raccoons can't get it!

With love, MattieDog

It's the Simple Things in Life

2010-08-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

When momma takes me for a walk, we see neighbors out and about and other people and doggies walking around the neighborhood. I hear my momma say, "Hi there," and I show my joy by wagging my tail. "Hi Mattie!" is the greeting that normally comes my way, and sometimes I get a little treat.

Around dinner time there is a nice gentleman named Terry, who lives a block or so away, who walks by our house and I often get all excited around the time he is suppose to walk by.... "MattieDog, stop all that wiggling, I'll let you out," momma says as she opens the door to let me out to wait at the edge of my driveway for my neighbor. Terry often sits on the grassy knoll at the end of our drive way with me, pulls out his little pocket knife and slices an apple he brought with him on his walk, and shares little pieces with me as we sit peacefully together on our cool lawn.

Terry had a stroke a couple of years ago, and as part of his therapy he walks laps around our neighborhood three times a day. Every time momma sees Terry she say's "Howdy!" and Terry always says, "Coming by your house is the best part of my walks!" Sometimes momma has dinner ready and takes it outside and we wait together for Terry; and when he finally rounds the corner to our house, we all sit on the lawn together. We eat dinner on paper plates and listen to Terry as he shares stories about his life and tells us that happiness is a choice, to wallow in self-pitty is a horrible waste of time, "it's powerless and changes nothing." Momma agrees and shares stories with Terry. I eat my apple slices and take a nap already fully aware of the power of choices, and am grateful that my momma and Terry spend time together strengthening their bonds as friends.

Life is a funny thing really. The simple joys, like a cool breeze on a summer day, are often overlooked due to the complexity cultivated throughout the years. Momma says, "I remember when I was five MattieDog," as she sits on the cool grass of our yard, looking up in to the sky. "I'd lay under a tree and watch the sun shine off the leaves of the tree and think 'how magical, all those little tiny leaves!'" Then she pulls me under a tree and we lay there together for hours, looking up at all the leaves flowing in the summer breeze. Magical.... life is truly magical! I hope you strip back some of the complexity you've cultivated throughout the years and simply enjoy life.

With love - MattieDog

When You Grow Up....

2010-08-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, me, momma and dadz were at a neighborhood block party enjoying time with our neighbors. I sat on my momma's lap and watched the children play while the adults sipped lemonade and played cards.

The children were getting a reprieve from the summer sun, frolicking in the non-stop spraying of the lawn sprinklers. They were mystified by the sprinklers, trying to figure out the timing so that they could jump over the spraying arches, like a double-dutch jump rope.

After 10 minutes had passed, momma put me down and I wandered over and sat down to watch the children play. One of the little boys came and sat by me and announced, "When I grow up I'm gonna be a dog!" All of the other children laughed, and one little girl said, "You can't be a dog, only a dog can be a dog!" At about that time dadz came over and the little girl asked dadz, "Ain't that right? He can't be a dog when he grows up!" pointing at the little boy who had the idea.

Dadz sat down in the midst of the children and me, and asked the little boy, "Why do you want to be a dog?" The little boy said, "Well, cuz dogs are nice, and they play, and love everyone!" Dadz said, "Well, in that case, when you grow up you can be a dog!" All the kids giggled and started to ask a million questions trying to get dadz to explain how a little boy could grow up to be a dog. "It's simple really," said dadz, "he wants to have the spirit of a dog in him when he grows up... and that's an awesome thing really. So, if you," dadz said pointing to the little boy, "grow in to a nice young man who likes to play and has love for everyone, then you'll always have the spirit of a dog within you!" All the kids seemed to understand that. Then dadz picked me up in his arms, held me tight and ran through the sprinklers, laughing out loud, with all of the kids chasing after us.

Something tells me that me and my dadz had the same dream when we were little, to grow up and be a dog. Ever since I was a little puppy I always new I wanted to be a dog. I couldn't imagine a more beautiful thing to aspire to be. Be kind to each other and practice becoming a good dog, it will help you on your journey.

With love, MattieDog

Lasting Friendships

2010-07-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

This week momma took me to our friend Mike's home. Mike is a great guy. Mike always has time for me and always lets me sit on his lap....and when momma isn't looking, Mike lets me eat some of his ice cream.

Momma and I have known Mike for about 10 years. Every day for Mike is a struggle, he lives with a degenerative disease that may end up taking his life. But Mike says, "So what Mattie, it doesn't matter, we have this moment together!" "Besides," says Mike, "we all have to go some time."

Mike is an amazing guy. He's a scientist with a patent, and he also knits dog sweaters. Go figure! When momma tells Mike that he should save his strength and rest, Mike always says "there will be plenty of time for that, right now I wanna knit!"

Mike's outlook is amazing. He lives life with a joy only seen in small children first discovering the wonders of this world; and, he giggles at the delights of nature... the sun, the moon, the sky at night when it glows with stars. Most importantly, Mike loves his dog, Mike.

Mike found Mike in a shelter about 8 years ago and ever since then the two have been inseparable. Mike the dog, likes hot dogs and snores.... Mike the human is a vegan and he's quite polite. The Mikes crack me and momma up. Momma calls Mike the dog, Señor Snore; and Mike the human she calls Vegamite. Often times we spend the afternoon with Señor Snore and Vegamite.... they are good friends that make us laugh and we enjoy every minute of their time.

Mike is right.... why worry about tomorrow, there will be plenty of time for that.

I want to honor our friends Mike and Mike and wish them many blessings.

With love,
MattieDog