Blessed or Blessing - Either Way, It's All Good

Every couple of weeks my momma takes me to visit some children who are going through cancer treatment.  Some of the little ones are very sick, and others don't react to the needles and machines and don't act sick at all.  I can always tell when we are going to go see the children because momma picks me up and says, "rub a dub dub, I see Mattie in the tub!"  She always sounds pretty happy about it to.

I try to run away from her, sneaking out the doggy door, only to realize, every time like a new discovery, that we have a fenced yard.  Momma comes out to the backyard calling my name.  She starts off by singing a happy little "Mattie...." and if I don't respond, ends up letting out a sharp-toned "Mattie!" I run around the back yard, back and forth, zooming around..... run, run, run, and then it turns in to fun and I run in to my momma's arms, forgetting that I'm actually trying to run away from her.

When I run to her, she lifts me up high, laughing, and says, "rub a dub dub, I see Mattie in the tub!" Oh no!  Next I know she's scrubbing me down, with scentless, shampoo, in the tub.  I sulk. Sad-faced in the tub.  All wet.  But soon I'm out of the tub and being blown dry to my regular fluffy self.  "Rub a dub dub..." I'll show her, I think, "next time I won't run in to your arms!"

Soon we're off to the hospital, where I get my little yellow vest that identifies me as a therapy dog.  "Apples Only Please!" That's what the patch on the right side of my vest says on account of my kidney problems.  And, off I go, to visit the little ones who are waiting for their treatments.  Every time I go I see Dr. Nancy, who greets me, gives me a few little apple pieces and introduces me to some of the smaller children first.

I sit with the kids and they take turns brushing me and getting me to do tricks; and walking me around the little courtyard if they are up to it.  Sometimes, when their tummies can take it, they eat and I end up with oatmeal, fruit, and often sticky candy goop stuck in my fur.  My momma picks me up at the end of the day - she's all smiles, plays with the kids some, and takes me around to say goodbye to the staff.  They wave bye and I wag my tail in response.

Momma sings, horribly off key, with the radio all the way home. "You Shook Me All Night Long," from AC/DC seems to really get her going.  I stick my head out the window, sniffing the air, and am happy to have spent time with children, and look forward to the fun waiting for me at home.

No sooner do we walk in the door, momma says, "Rub a dub dub Mattie!" Yipes! Not again!  Out the doggy door I go with momma chasing after me.  We re-enact the morning's seek-and-go-find-Mattie events, and it always end the same...me in the tub, getting the days adventures scrubbed out of my fur.

The day ends, routinely, with me getting blown dry, eating my dinner and cuddling up in a blanket, next to momma on the sofa. "Mattie, you bring such joy to those little ones.  You are a blessing to them."  Really? I thought I was the blessed one - I get to see their wonderful little faces, their smiles.  I get to meet their families, and share in their journeys as the little ones, some times struggling to do so, try to get better.  I look at momma, and see that she is blissfully unaware of her error.  Sometimes momma gets it wrong, but I won't tell her - I'll just snuggle up to her, content in the knowledge that I am the fortunate one.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog