Dogs, Dementia and Kindness
A woman approached us as we walked along the sidewalk in the hospital corridor near my home. “May I ask you a question?” she asked. “Sure.” “Is it okay if I approach your dog?” “Of course.” She walked up to Jaxon and kneeled down to pet him. “Oh, I so needed a mini Schnauzer ‘fix’ this morning. We don’t live here and our dog is back home. I miss her so.” She looked up at me. “My husband is in the Intensive Care Unit.” “Oh, dear. Covid?” I asked. “No, he had a heart attack. And, last night they had to take him back into surgery where he then suffered…
Empathy? Kindness? Say, what?
His comment raised the hackles on the back of my neck and my thoughts turned dark. I visualized the bold headline: “Author Attacks Book-Signing Attendee!” With a slight shiver, I decided it best to continue smiling, nodding and change the subject at the earliest possible moment. People had begun wending their way toward a seat in the outdoor pavilion, the event nearly ready to commence. An elderly gentleman accompanied by his wife most likely wished himself home watching a baseball game on T.V. I’d already listened to him insult her earlier in a condescending tone of voice when she asked him a question. I watched out of the corner of…
Author | Adventurer | Advocate
