Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

O Happy Day!

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I’m sick today and recovering from a fall so this will be short.
I just wanted to let you see the face of  longing fulfilled.

Here she is looking up the number for our vet to schedule Oliver’s first appointment.  She spoke to the receptionist herself right up until we got to the calendar.  The receptionist was impressed and touched.

Forgive the quality of the photos.  There have been more than a few Mactography sessions.  I know Oliver looks quite mournful here, but he’s a cheerful little guy, unless you separate him from his happy girl.

A Brief Correspondence

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Yesterday Eden wrote this email to her dad in Toronto.  She had asked to use my computer and carefully typed this: 


Dear daddy, I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally miss you. did you get the fancy hotel soap?:) well ok please listen, did you love ninja? or did you just love us, and not want to hurt our feelings. I don”t want us to have a dog that you have no part of. that you do not like. daddy I wrote this my self. love Eden. bye-bye.


I love the whole thing.  It’s just a little email and so much more.  I love her concern about Paul, the wisdom in knowing that parents often go along with things for the pleasure it brings our children, for love.  


“…that you have no part of.  that you do not like.”  It’s so easy to just want something and not really care about another’s needs and wishes.


And then, “daddy I wrote this my self.”  This undoes me.


Paul’s reply:

Aw, thank you for your note Eden. I miss you a lot too. I’ve got some soap & its a little fancy – you can be the judge. I thought Ninja was adorable & I’m sure I would love him a lot too if he was ours. You’re so sweet to ask me. I love you. Bye bye angel.

Jet

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After a lengthy application process we went to visit this little guy Saturday. We had hoped to visit him a month ago, but Paul’s aunt died and the funeral was the same day.  The next opportunity was last Saturday.   Paul had a trip for business, but he changed his flight and we drove across the state to meet Jet.

Minutes before we arrived another couple came and said they would take him.  Because I wanted to meet Jet before committing to adopt, the rescue refused to give us any preference.

This, despite the fact that we had been trying to meet him since mid-October, that Paul had changed his flight and that we drove over two hours.

“First come.  First served.”  Is what the rescue…I don’t know his title…told us.  That’s their process for twelve years he also said and they’re sticking with it.  That’s great for hamburgers, or donuts, but we’re talking about a living creature,

 

as well as our children, who all fell in love with this funny little dog.

 

 

 

We’re all sad and disappointed.  Unfairness in the name of perfect fairness is such a drag.  We have cried and prayed and I have written several emails.  Last night, Eden said, “How about we be thankful for what we DO have:  Jackie Boy.”
We are learning to choose gratitude and hope, in the midst of loss.
This is our lament.

Mr. T

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I’ve fallen in love with another man.

We met online.

I didn’t really believe in love at first sight until I saw a picture of him and I knew he had to belong to me.

Being short and fat he’s not handsome in the traditional sense, but I think he’s adorable.

Paul has not been at all reasonable, which is disappointing.

Don’t you think we belong together?

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This little person only has two aunts and both of us are named Al(l)ison and go by “Aunt Al(l)i to Torey’s girls. Ever since a little neighbor boy who adored me would shout down the street “Assalin!” I have encouraged young children to call me Ali. It usually first comes out as “A-wee” but I have no problem with that.

Little Miss Precocious, the same child who could clearly say “Lydia” at 6 months has been calling her two aunties something that sounds like one would make when clearing one’s phlegmy throat. The best spelled approximation is “Eh Eh” but that doesn’t really capture it.
I had the child speaking Chinese with intonation the other day but when I asked her to say my name she just stared at me.
Allison and I have both hit the wall. She’s complaining on Skype from Vancouver and I’m griping here. A couple days ago I threatened to ignore Willa or “Weewa” as she calls herself until she called me by name.
Today, I can’t remember why, she said “A-wee” clear as a bell for Torey, then several times more on the phone and yet again in the flesh when I picked up Eden tonight. It was so sweet and terribly, terribly appreciated.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/10/263/