Just so there is no confusion, her furriness has not gone up to the great pasture in the sky. The last post, which inadvertently brought tears to Christine’s eyes, was an attempt at catharsis. Something to help me process my feelings about my dog. You may have read that my sister, bless her heart, had agreed to dog sit the furry one while Christine and I are in France (see Pack Mentality.) Somewhat ironically, the day we arrived in Aix-en-Provence I received a letter from my sister saying that the extra dog (my dog) was just too much, and my sister would not be able to keep her. In the letter my sister indicated that she could continue to look after the dog until September, when she would be traveling to California, and could make arrangements to drop the dog off somewhere; to be arranged later on.
This came as difficult news to hear. First, Christine and I had leased an apartment that does not take pets. We were under the impression that we would not have a pet in France. Second, our situation in France is vastly different than it was in the United States. Large vehicles and driving everywhere you go are just not that common place or practical. At a minimum Christine is required to go to Paris throughout the year as part of her job requirements, making hotel acquisition with me and an 80lb dog that much more difficult.
To make a much longer story shorter, if any of you know of a good temporary home for my girl please email me and share this information. I will need to come back to the United States, so arrangements can be made to pickup and deliver the dog. The best place for her would be a house that has a fenced in yard (dog proof) where she can hang out and feel secure. She also likes to lie on her bed in a safe feeling spot inside, so access to both areas for her is a definite plus. This whole process is really an emotional drain. Struggling with the possibilities and the implications has wiped me out. I really don’t feel as though I’m thinking straight. Hopefully this finds a prompt and amicable resolution.
-G