animals
When they heard the chain slip past the clip on the gate to the barnyard, they all came rushing my way. The four goats, two Great Pyrenees and the flock of chickens all gathered around to greet me as I entered their domain. Agnes, the 90 pound Pyrenees pup grabbed my leg in a firm leg lock to claim me for herself. Roxy, the mature six year old simply offered her head up for a loving rub and a hearty hello. The four Nigerian dwarfs, Paul, Olivia, Peggy Sue, and Snow White all nuzzled their way between the canines to get their respective pats and rubs. The hens and Cock-a-doodle the rooster were content just to be observing from a nearby vantage. The purpose of my visit was to collect the eggs that the hens had deposited so neatly in their nests that morning. One old girl perched peacefully on the platform as I searched the other nests for their offerings. With six eggs collected and placed in the towel lined bucket I went to search one more area of the stable. Within seconds, Agnes stuck her nose in the bucket and was about to abscond with one of the fresh orbs. She had been the mysterious culprit previously in “the case of missing eggs.” A quick “NO” and an elevation of the container was enough to prompt a loss of interest by the pup who rushed to see what her senior mentor was barking at on the other side of the stable. Another egg in hand, I made my way back to the gate and the exit from the pasture. As I looked back, each of the animals that were so eager to greet and be greeted were busy with their respective meanderings about the stable. Back pain and stiffness in the right leg had been impediments to the full pleasure of engagement with the animals, but not a barrier to the joy of the opportunity to be in their presence. A pang of gratitude in a meadow of thankfulness generates a joyful heart.
Today the weather changed. A refreshing cool wind blew from the northwest scattering multicolored leaves about the lawn. Maple tree seeds ample enough to dot the surface of the carport spread briskly in the gusts of wind. The farm animals seemed to revel in the freshness of the day as goats bantered about with each other and the chickens enjoyed the feast of worms abundantly brought to the surface by the previous day’s rain and their ample pick of seeds from the winds of change. The shifting angle of the earth’s rotation signals the passing of summer into autumn and with it nature’s adaptation in its changing environment. As the natural landscape of the farmland adjusts to the evolving temperature and light upon its surface, so too do our bodies react to change. Most of that change is a part of the normal cycle of adaptation but occasionally, that change is exacerbated by dis-ease. Stiffness, involuntary (non-intended) movement and enhanced pain are often uninvited visitors to the PD person’s visceral dwelling. One sometimes attributes that visitor’s overextended stay to the cooling weather conditions, but then is reminded that those same visitors arrived during warmer times as well. Perhaps uninvited disease symptoms are better adapted to or tolerated in the sunshine of the spring and summer as one is anticipating the freedom of outdoor adventures. Recognizing the guests for who they are gives clarity in preparation for their temporary accommodation with a thankful heart of celebration at their ultimate departure! Thankfulness is an antidote to otherwise distracting intrusions.