Carolyn Holm

Dear Poppy
You didn’t greet me when I came in the door!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I didn’t know you were home.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Didn’t you hear me?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I was asleep.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I wonder if you have lost some of your hearing?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I’m sure I’ll find it.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I like your Can-Do attitude. But this isn’t that kind of lost. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Not like when you misplaced your dark glasses?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Well, no sweetie. I’m talking about your hearing. You might be getting a little bit deaf.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Deaf???!!! You mean like Molly?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Well, yes, like Molly. When she got old she was deaf as a post. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And I’m like Molly? Will I have a post? Am I old?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You’re eleven now. That’s not as old as Molly was when you knew her, but you are getting on in years. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Getting on my ears?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
No sweetie, just getting older. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Am I going to get sick like Puffin? 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
No honey, you are nice and healthy. Puffin was much older! But you are sporting a new look. You’ve definitely got a sugarface now!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Today you aren’t making any sense. Sugarface???????
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Sugarface is a sweet way to describe an old dog’s face becoming white. I can see it around your eyes and mouth.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
It’s sweet?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Good pun, right?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Now I really don’t understand you.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I’m sorry. Let’s start over. I’m noticing you seem to have trouble hearing me sometimes. So I’m glad you know the hand signals for all the important things.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
What are the important things?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Sit, Down, Come Along, Come Here, and Stop Fooling Around And Come Here RIGHT NOW. Those are all important to communicate.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And I know all the hand signals!!!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Yes you do. Ever since I had an elderly dog, years ago, who became deaf, I’ve taught each dog since with hand signals. When Molly got old, and couldn’t hear a thing, I was glad I did that.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
There’s one more signal. The pointing one.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Oh yes, when I point to you, and you know it means “I’m leaving now, you are going to stay, and I promise I’ll come back.” 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That’s a long string of words for one pointing finger.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
But you know what those words mean, so you don’t even follow me to the door.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Often you say one more thing.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I do?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
You say “Puffin is in charge.” Or, “Poppy is in charge.” But you don’t usually say Winston is in charge.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
He’s not really a take charge kind of guy.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Now that Puffin is gone, that means I’m always in charge! 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I just hope this doesn’t go to your head.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
To my head? Now you aren’t making sense. Again.
XOXO Poppy

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