Assisted Living
by carolynholm
Dear Alpha Mom,
I miss sleeping in the Pantry.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
I know. It was your cave.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
I chose it myself.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
You did. We were all impressed by that. But I’m sorry, I have to keep you where you are. Consider it your little Assisted Living apartment.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
Is this because I pee and poop all over the place now? I don’t do it on purpose.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
I know that sweetie. It’s the indignity of growing old. Sixteen is a ripe old age! But that’s why I have to contain you in a small area covered by pee pads.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
Wait, they’re pee pads? I’m not supposed to poop on them?
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
Don’t worry about it. It’s just a name. You’re doing fine. Well, most of the time. I wish you wouldn’t step in it.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
Or sit in it.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
I wasn’t going to mention that. But yes, that’s a mess. But it’s not your fault. Your legs have become so unreliable. It breaks my heart to see you staggering around like this. But I admire your grit.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
My legs have a life of their own. Hard to believe I used to be a good High Sierra hiker.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
Oh you were the best! Leaping from rock to rock. Skipping across Caples Creek on a skinny log. Racing after a ground squirrel. You were an awesome athlete.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
The first time Poppy went to Caples Creek she fell in.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
That she did. She doesn’t have your agility. You were the champ. The agile champ of the High Sierra.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
I still miss my cave.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
I gave you a doghouse. sweetie. That’s a cave. I’m the only person I know with a doghouse in my kitchen.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
It’s a nice cave. Almost as nice as the Pantry. But it’s not the same.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
Dearest Molly,
Sometimes you have to accept change.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Alpha Mom,
No. I don’t think so.
Your Best Dog,
Molly
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