Today is June 24, 2020. This year is only half over and yet it feels like the marathon of all years. This will definitely be one to go down in history, for every family I'm sure. I'm doing my best to focus on the positives around me because the enemy could (and sadly has) devour anyone's spirit in a second with all that is playing out in the world today.
The Riley's Ride started off as a blog documenting our family's journey so that we would have something to look back on. I also have a love for writing so it was a great outlet for me in that way. Since 2014, we gained Riddick, a male black lab puppy, lost him to kidney failure as ironic as that is with the Mr.'s health issues, gained Miss Letty Riggins, a female black lab puppy who now lays at my feet as I type. She is almost six now and has brought me more joy in my life than I knew possible. I know deep in my heart that she is a gift from God after losing Riddick.
(This is Miss Letty)
Riddick was our family's first dog. It took many years convincing the Mr. that we 'needed' one. We surprised our son getting off the bus in 3rd grade with him and we even caught that on video. Riddick was only with us for four short months. I was in a physical pain that I had never felt before. My heart was bro-ken. The Mr. was in Norway so I was alone to figure it out. After sorting things through, I was advised to get another one to help soften the blow this grief was causing. BEST advice truly. It led me to find Miss Letty Riggins.
For anyone who has met Letty, she is adored. She is calm, obedient & super smart as I continue to teach her new tricks still. The Mr. calls her my shadow as she follows me everywhere. She smiles almost as if it's on purpose. She's my shot-gun rider and would rather go with me than be left behind. However, at times, in our heat, she understands the word "stay" and does very well at home alone. She is inside with us, sleeps with my son and doesn't seem like the average dog. We have an unspoken language. (Ohhh if she could only talk!) Her eyes tend to communicate with me as if I know exactly what she's saying. In the morning, she'll wait for me to arise before coming out of my son's room. If the Mr. is up before me, it won't matter. I don't know if she knows by scent or how but I'm fascinated nonetheless. During this whole quarantine season, we have a morning ritual of going to play and then for a walk. If I'm having a lazy morning, she'll come to me, put her face in my lap and look at me as if to say, "I know you know what time it is. Grab your shoes and let's go." I guess you could say she's a great accountability partner too.
There are so many other rituals that Miss Letty has too. She knows when it's time for my son to get home from school because she'll go to the window and watch, just waiting for the big yellow bus to arrive.
At night before we go to bed, when 8pm rolls around, she'll once again come to me, putting her face in my lap or on the bed beside me with her subtle reminder to brush her teeth. It's hilariously precious.
A few years ago, I had her teeth cleaned. I really hated seeing her put under so when the vet told me that it was possible to train a dog to remind you to brush, I was all ears. He said that he'd seen it with another family who had a St. Bernard. He said, "At the same time each evening, simply sit calmly on the floor with a dog's toothbrush and dog's toothpaste, and brush uppers and lowers. Then give the dog an enzyme chew. They will look forward to that chew. It will help remove any plaque left on their teeth." Sure enough, I tried what he said and in no time at all, Letty was coming to me nightly for her teeth to be cleaned. That was almost four years ago.
Needless to say, the last five plus years have been filled with more knowledge about natural medicine, which I'm extremely passionate about, more education about nutrition, lifestyle diet changes, and our immune boosting dog. Yes, I even heard it the other day. Having a dog can boost your immune system. I'm so thankful for Miss Letty Riggins. I knew years ago that living life in good health would be living a wealthy life. Today, I still agree.
