Those closest to me will laugh knowingly that my first post involves my dog, Polly. My love for my best bud Polly and her dearly departed predecessor is no secret in my circles. However, this particular tale bears repeating and since my dog, an Australian Shepherd, has more of a bob than a tail there is truly no pun intended!
I am expecting my first child. We are still marveling and rejoicing at it around our house! I was the one that everyone in high school and college predicted would get married and have a dozen children right away. As things turned out, I was married in September 2006 and am now in my late thirties. Needless to say, things often don’t go as planned or assumed and so here I am, smack dab in the midst of this momentous event of life, love and adulthood, all the while saying better late than never!
This past week was my ultrasound to determine the baby’s gender. We decided to have our surprise now rather than later. My husband leaves well before the crack of dawn for work, and I usually get up around 6:00 a.m. First thing I do is let the dog out. Only this time, within minutes, she was whining at the back door. I let her back in and quickly realized she had been sprayed by a skunk. She was foaming at the mouth and flinging her head around, splattering his essential oils all over me and the house. Having experienced this with two other dogs before, I sprung into action. I did the best I could over the next couple of hours to bring her relief and air out the house. But I had to leave for the ultrasound and there was no way I was missing that. By 8:45 a.m., when it was time to go, my senses were so overtaken that I had lost touch with what was real or imagined skunk odor. As it turns out, I was infused with skunk odor and everywhere I went that day, I left lasting impressions. This included the waiting area of the doctor’s office, the ultrasound room, my parents’ home (to share the news), and then to the office where I work. When I opened my lunch sack, skunk odor wafted out. When I opened my briefcase, everyone around me needed a face mask. I almost went home for the day, which was half gone anyway.
My brother told me that tomato juice is a myth as far as skunk detoxification for the actual dog. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing soap is what worked for him. When I got home, my husband and I washed our dog down with this mixture, focusing on her face and ears because that is where she was actually sprayed. As she dried, clearly thankful for the relief we brought her, I took a good look at her, and asked my husband, “Does hydrogen peroxide lighten things??” Sure enough folks, we gave our dog highlights. Take another look at the picture at the top of the post (Summer, 2007). Cute, right? Let’s just say I don’t care for her new look.
So, on this very significant day in our history together, my precious daughter, your mama stunk to high heaven! Our experiences are already creating unforgettable memories and trust me, in the passage of my life thus far, that’s nothing new.
-Photography by blog author
[…] be in a state of waiting and watching is so very appropriate considering the season we are in. My days have been ticking […]