That makes me smile…

What? What makes me smile? Well, since you asked….The list is long lately, but what comes to mind as I write this is my two new dogs! I adopted them since last we spoke! TWO! Yep! (eye roll!) I know, I must be nuts! But these two adorable dogs make me smile! They are such a pain in the butt sometimes, but most times they are a joy! My first dog Scruffy would surely disagree …she would say they are a complete and utter pain in the butt! She is not happy with this new development and she pouts quite a lot lately just to make sure I know it! Although….don’t tell anyone, but…she is beginning to cave in and I have seen her playing with Annie, the puppy, on a few occasions.

Scruffy is not an especially playful dog, If I had to describe her personality I would call her regal and indifferent to other dogs. She’s not aggressive in any way but she likes her space and just wants to be near me. She’s a love! The addition of these two new dogs has really put a kink in her tranquil life. Come to think of it its put a kink in our tranquil life too! hah! But, Annie, the puppy (yes! puppy! ugh!) really is pretty impossible to resist . Especially when she has her butt up in the air and her little face saying, “come get me!” She wiggles all over, collapses when you go to grab her and rolls onto her back so that you can scratch her belly. Scruffy has been seen doing the typical doggy playing posture, butt up in the air, paws out in front her her, looking like she is stalking the puppy who is slowly, carefully coming towards the big dog with a joyful look of expectation on her little puppy face! I saw it with my own two eyes! Scruffy playfully pounced, then took chase! Annie gleefully running as fast as her short little legs will take her! This, made me smile and makes me smile just telling you about it.

But, I have not told you about the other new dog, the mama of Annie, her name is Pika! The first word that comes to mind when I think of her is grumpy! Although, there’s also a healthy helping of sweetness. Sadly this little girl has her reasons for being choosy about who she loves. Pika’s had a hard life. She’s only about 2 years old but has spent most of her life chained up and starving, so sad. She was rescued just after having had 7 puppies! We adopted her and Annie and she has understandably taken a little while to actually trust her new family. I must say though that although Pika is not especially good with any of our friends who come over and she’s a nipper and a barker, she’s stolen my heart. I have hope that she will, eventually, with time and patience, begin to behave better with other people who she meets. But, for now we have to make sure to warn everyone who comes over not to touch the black and white dog! ugh! She hasn’t really bitten anyone yet, but she has nipped and tried! In spite of this behavioral problem, she is a really loving, cuddly girl. We’ve had these two new babies for a little over two months now and I think we’ve all begun to settle into a routine. They are starting to become more and more loving and trusting and even Scruffy has slowly begun to find a way to let up on her pouting.

So,I have to say..on my list of things that make me smile, these darn dogs are on the very top! We go on long walks through our property, they all run around disappearing into the jungle chasing some invisible smell that they seem intent on finding as I pray its not anything nasty like a snake or porcupine! They reappear from their chase covered in stickers and mud and looking so happy and proud of whatever exploit they have been up to. Often Pika and Scruffy will disappear and Annie will sit down next to me peering out into the distance looking for her mom. She’s got a timid side to her and while the two old ladies are off chasing or exploring a bit further than she is comfortable going she feels safe by my side. Dogs are so fun to have around. They are slowly becoming our family and Pat and Scott and myself have all fallen for them big time!


The last blog post that I shared was about the challenges of finding my footing in my retired life here in Panama. I talked about feeling adrift and wondering what I would find in this new life that would feed my soul. I was really struggling with this and thought I should update you on it. Rest assured, Im on my way to finding my footing and feeling much less sad and disconnected now. As time goes by I find myself slowly allowing myself to settle into the easy flow of my life and to let go of my expectations and my need for immediate gratification. Ive adopted a practice of being more open minded to opportunities that come into my life. Seems like when I put out to the universe my desires and I open my mind to receiving what I desire amazing things happen. More on that in another post..I really must start blogging more, the days just seem to fly by!

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