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Creative writing submission from the Rest Less community – submit your entry here.
Unfortunately, I’ve been virtually housebound with a Meniere’s attack for over a week, and this is the first time I’ve been able to sit and use the computer. When it’s active, I can’t look at a screen or even read, so I haven’t been able to write for days. Interestingly, I’ve learned to know when it’s coming, though. If you’ve seen The Matrix, you’ll know about the glitch with the black cat. It’s just like that! All these weird things moving on the edge of your vision, combined with confusion as to whether it’s real or a memory. As I said, weird but useful as I’m forewarned!
My wonderful friends and neighbours have rallied around me and the sausages, offering food, shopping and dog walks. The sausages themselves have been somewhat bemused by the situation. They have been both sympathetic and tolerant of the fact that they haven’t been able to meet their buddies over the cricket ground daily, but they’ve showered me with affection regardless.
Last Wednesday, I had a prearranged visit to the market for bedding plants with a neighbour. She made it possible for me to go by giving me her arm and propping me up. Once there, she made me laugh as she parked me, clinging onto a stall holder’s plant stand, telling him to charge me rent! Thanks to her, I got a load of fabulous plant bargains which gave me two enjoyable afternoons sitting in the sunshine, planting up the pots with risk of harm, whilst Willow and Bear sunbathed on the table! (They had a cosy bed in the sunshine, but it was the table where they chose to sit.)
When the Meniere’s attack began, it (as always) started with tinnitus, occasional deafness and horrendous nausea. I found myself crawling around on all fours. Standing often initiates falling, and although the terrible swimmy heads can still hit when crawling, I’m unlikely to injure myself being that much closer to the ground.
Bear thought this very strange, and every time I set off on all fours, he would race up and roll around on his back, waving his little legs in my face, clearly believing that this was a game. It took a long time to get anywhere as I had to stop, rub his tummy and try to persuade him to stop licking me and get out of the way.
Willow, on the other hand, bounced around like a kangaroo at a distance and occasionally hitched a lift on my back.
By the third day, they seemed to get it. They would carefully remove themselves and get out of the way. Of course, this could have been awareness of my situation, offering me care and understanding…or a recognition that they might get squished if they didn’t!
I’m clearly coming to the end of it now, so hopefully I’ll be back to normal soon, but you can’t rush it. It is what it is, and not stressing means a quicker recovery.
While all this was going on, my friend who kindly offered to have the sausages on Easter Sunday, came and fetched them for three ‘play dates’. They spent several hours with their best buddy, Hattie, firstly with me and then without me, so it wasn’t a fearful experience when she had them for the day.
I think my friend loved them almost as much as I do, and they had her entirely wrapped around their little paws. Bear only had to put the brakes on when walking, and she picked him up and…yes, she carries him!
Willow turns the side eye on her, standing over the empty food bowl, as if she hasn’t been fed for days. This instantly produces results with exclamations of, “She must be hungry!” Even Hattie gave up her bed, her sofa blankets, her people and more importantly, her toys so that Willow and Bear felt at home.
I’m so impressed with Hattie, there was no jealousy as Willow chewed her Father Christmas and Bear stretched out on the sofa. Was I worried about how they would cope in my absence? Nope, they were so at home there and got a five-star service.
Truthfully, though, I’m really grateful. It’s really not easy to find someone willing to take two little, shouty sausages for a couple of hours, let alone a whole day and on a public holiday. I know that when they’re not with me (which is hard for me), they are with someone who will look after them just as I would.
I think we’ve all been blessed with making such friends. ‘Dog people’ are truly special, and I love them. Okay, many of us are a tad eccentric and maybe a bit quirky, but that’s part of our charm.
I couldn’t be more grateful, so this is to thank everyone who went out of their way to look after me and the sausages over this period. I really appreciate it.
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