Carolyn Holm

Dear Poppy,
You really had us worried!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I’m sorry!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
No worries now, sweetie. But it was indeed alarming when you let out a random scream every once in a while. Though you do already have a reputation for being a screamer. You are such a big baby. As Molly would have said, you are not exactly Terrier Tough. But even a screamer usually has something to scream about. This appeared to be random.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Random?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It seemed random. Once you startled me by screaming in the middle of the night. Once you screamed just as I walked in the room. Twice when I stood up when you were sleeping under my chair, and I thought maybe I had accidently stepped on you. But I was pretty sure I hadn’t. It was getting weird! 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
So we went to the vet!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
When a dog starts just screaming randomly, it’s time to go to the vet. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
She said we were going to do some yoga, and then she moved all my legs. Then she moved my head.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
And you screamed. Bingo. It was your neck. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
She hurt me!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
She didn’t want to hurt you, she just wanted to pinpoint the source of the screaming. It wasn’t random at all. When you suddenly moved your head a certain way, it hurt, and you screamed. Apparently you have arthritis in your neck. She says it is not uncommon for an older dog.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I’m older?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You don’t look it, honey. But you are ten years old. In some circles that’s considered older.
Love, Carolyn 

Dear Mom,
And now I get new pills in my food!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
The pain killer seems to be working. No screaming since we started those pills.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And now we have a harness for our walks.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s so the leash is no longer attached to your collar, pulling on your neck. Now we just need to get the hang of how to put the darn thing on each time we go out. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
A new thing to get used to.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s life.
Love, Carolyn

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Poppy, Winston, and Puffin are looking forward to sharing their weekly correspondence with you! Each week one of them is featured here, and yes, you can get the week’s post conveniently in your email every Friday by subscribing in the subscriber box at the top of this page. (If you are reading this in an email, go to blog.carolynholm.com to subscribe.) If you have already subscribed, multiple paws are raised to salute you!