Agnes lopped gleefully toward the bathroom. It was bath morning for the four month old Great Pyrenees. Forty five pounds of gigantic fluff surrounding a solid mass of goat herding muscle had to be coaxed into the waiting tub. One spray from the shower head and the otherwise docile doggie was ready to leap to freedom from the warm torrent. A steady hold and soft words of encouragement were the elixir that smoothed the struggle as the bath progressed to its designed conclusion. Water off and puppy calm, the gentle rub of the towel with words of care and encouragement spewing forth proved to be the icing on what had become a hug fest. Agnes, happy with herself and cherishing the positive attention, was now ready to dry in the warmth of the sun before today’s last routine visit to the vet for this year. Occasionally, Parkinson’s symptoms arise in protest to an implied depletion of dopamine. Tremor or stiffness screams to be freed from the confines of its natural consequence. Like Agnes, the steady, patient, path forward becomes the best prescription for yet another marker on the road of life. Just as baths do not last forever, I’ve discovered that with the gentle coaxing of medication and personal patience, unwanted symptoms subside in due course. Thankful for the freedom from the confines of tub and symptoms, Agnes and I can move forward in the embrace that is today and the warmth of its offering.
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