After several years working in the computer industry, attending endless meetings involved in the development of policies, procedures, contracts and all kinds of paperwork, approvals, and evaluations, I found myself out the door in a slumping economy and at an advanced age.   No one was hiring.   I became what I hope to be in retirement - a dog groomer. Working with dogs and their owners has been a much more rewarding way to make a living. After three years as owner of a shop in Ayer, Massachusetts, I bought a mobile grooming van and based my business out of Natick. For the past eleven years I have had the good fortune of having to turn new customers away because of the demand for a service that is performed right in the customer's driveway in about an hour and a half. No day-long trip to a shop or sitting in a cage.

It has been so rewarding to see the dog in its own familiar surroundings proudly returning and interacting with its owner. Such mutual love and admiration is fun to see and is my greatest reward.

Because people never expect it, many things happen that they overlook. One of the things that I have noticed is how our pets are able to communicate with us, even read our minds.

My favorite example is Buddy's ability to know when I am going to give him a bath. He doesn't get baths very often, because when I get home, the last thing I want to do is another grooming. I never schedule it. Very often as I am approaching home, about a half mile away, I decide that I have time for his bath and am not too tired. When I open the door, instead of getting the usual excited greeting I normally get, Buddy is hiding in one of his favorite spots, under my desk. This has happened so many times that it has opened my mind to the possibilities and I now look for it quite frequently.

Another example is the delight he takes in our daily walk around the neighborhood. We started in the summer when it was pleasant to go for a walk after supper. As the days grew shorter and the temperature fell, I took him in the afternoon when it wasn't so cold. Hot or cold, day or night, rain, sleet or snow makes no difference to him. Other than eating, our walk is his favorite thing.   One day I was thinking about how I would be busy later and I made the decision to take him right away, an entirely unusual time. No sooner did I have the thought than he came running and started his usual impatient and excited barking dance. Now, whenever I plan to take him at an unexpected time, I test this one out by deliberately trying to transfer the thought. You wouldn't believe how often it works.

Recently, one of my customer's expressed surprise that his dog had changed her normal morning routine and seemed to know that I was coming even though nothing had been said. She was in one of her favorite spots refusing to move!

One of the most moving experiences I have ever had occurred when our miniature poodle was seriously ill with what proved to be kidney failure at about thirteen years of age.

Susie had been under the vets care for some time but the day came when she looked miserable, unable to eat and hardly raise her head or wag her tail.   We rushed her to the vet, who described for us some particularly difficult and painful tests, which would likely accomplish nothing to help her.   We must have been mentally prepared because we made the immediate and painful decision to save her from her suffering there and then.

When we came home, we laid her in a large plastic storage box on her favorite afghan with some of her toys.   While I dug the hole in the garden in our back yard for her burial, Chelsea, our cat, came to investigate but seemed to show no reaction.  

The following morning I set out for my usual Saturday grooming schedule.   While working on the dog, the van was filled with a strong disgusting odor and I remarked to the dog "Boy, are you gassy today!"    The air cleared but shortly before I finished up the van was permeated again with the same odor and I began to look around to see if he had made a mess or if something was on my clothes or in the basket.   At the same time I began to recognize the odor as somewhat familiar to something I had recently experienced.

That grooming completed, I drove to my next appointment about seven miles away in another town.   I was working with the new dog when the van was again permeated with the exact same odor and then I recognized the odor as being the same as came from Suzie's mouth on the day before when we took her to the vet.   I came to the only conclusion I could.   It was Suzie coming to tell me, as only she could, that she was fine and that she was thankful for our merciful act.

When I got home we went out back to discuss my experience of the morning.   We noticed Chelsea, our cat, normally an indoor cat, looking out the door at us.   I opened the door and told him that he could come out with us in the sunshine for a few minutes.   He took two steps to the right and then walked left directly to Suzie;s grave and sat down.   He turned and looked at us knowingly.   (See picture)

This particular experience confirmed for me the spiritual connections we have with all life and our ability to communicate if only we will open ourselves to the opportunities.

One night I was lying on the floor soaking up the heat from the air vent.   After a busy and active day with Buddy, he came over to me and looked at me a little funny.    For some reason I asked him "What's the matter, don't you feel well?"

No real sign of sickness.   Under such conditions, even if he were throwing up or having some other sign of distress, I would normally think about calling the vet the next day.   
This time I asked "Do you want to go to the doctor?"    Somehow, perhaps intuitively, I immediately knew the answer: "Yes, I want to go to the doctor.   Now."
I immediately went to the phone and called Tufts Veterinary Hospital.   At 10:15 PM we were rushing to meet with the emergency doctors.   After an hour of pacing while waiting for the diagnosis, the doctor emerged with the news that Buddy had a liver tumor which they wanted to remove as soon as possible the next morning.
The operation was completed and the hope was that they had been successful in removing any further danger to further growth or damage.   Recovery was long, but when complete, restored him to full strength and happiness.   What has since amazed me was the absolute clarity of communication that took place between us.

There are no accidents.   Even though I had thought of retiring sometime in the fall of 2007, early in April it became clear that the time was right immediately.   I was having some kind of undiagnosed health problem draining me of energy and there was also an offer to buy the grooming van.   A surprising solution to financial concerns surfaced and this convergence of circumstances pushed the decision to retire to its earlier conclusion.

As it turned out, I spent the following months attending to numerous medical tests, finally resulting in a finding of minor consequences.   An elderly aunt who had fallen, broken a hip and ended up in a nursing home needed her only relativeâÂ& #128;Â& #153;s attention.   Much time was spent in sorting out and preparing for the disposal of her home.   My mini poodle, which had been living with her for a few years since my motherâÂ& #128;Â& #153;s death, was now at home with me.

I firmly believe that there are no accidents and all these things worked out the way they were supposed to.   Now I look forward to the unfolding of events in the future.

Suffering from a critical heart problem, Poupee went "home" at 3 PM two days after Christmas. 

That night I woke up and looked at the clock.  It was 2:51 AM.

As I lay there on my left side waiting to go back to sleep, I felt a slight pressure against my back, much like I felt when Poupee was snuggled up beside me each night.  I reached out to feel behind me and see if it was Snuggles or the blankets that had gotten bunched up.  Nothing.

For the next five to ten minutes I maintained my position but continued to feel the pressure against my back.  When I gently pushed back just a hair, the pressure increased.

 
You can take it any way you like.  I know how I take it.  She was letting me know that she is still here and that everything is cool.