A Day in the Life of a Dog Sitter

My husband, Randy, and my son, Josh, had left town for a guy weekend. My job was to care for Rookie, Josh‘s dog. It was hot out, so I wanted to stop at the store to pick up a big water bottle, that’s attached to a bowl, so he’d always have fresh water. Once there, I realized I didn’t have my glasses with me, and though I tried really, really hard, I couldn’t see the hole where the water would flow into the bowl. If I was going to need to poke my own hole in the apparatus, I needed to know about it, so I proceeded to track down an employee who could actually SEE! Though the one I found could see, he couldn’t understand English. Yes, I was at WalMart. Though we tried to communicate, it was no use, and I went to find someone who could make sure my purchase actually worked. He assured me it did, no drilling, poking, or stabbing would be necessary. I was finally on my way. Rookie would be so happy!

I got out Josh’s key and headed to the front door. After several minutes, I had finally unlocked the four locks on the two front doors, only to find that he’d left the chain hooked on the inside. I slid it over and over again to no avail. I wiggled my arm down to its skinniest part and pulled the door hard against it. That did it. I managed to release the chain and open the door in spite of my smashed, mangled muscles.

I went back to the car and retrieved the water bottle, filled it with ice, yes, ice, and water, and headed to the arcadia door. The door was closed and locked, duh, and was behind blinds which, of course, were also closed. While trying to balance the bowl on my hip, I squeezed between the blinds to open the door. All the sudden the tank started to tip off the bowl. OMG! The water started sloshing out, and only by some miracle, I managed to get it, all in one piece, to the ground. My hands now free, I tried to open the blinds, which were crooked and stuck, probably from me thrashing about in them while trying to save the floor from the impending flood.

I mopped up the water, let Rookie in, and once again picked up the water jug. Right as I got inside the slightly open doorway, Rookie charged past me on his way back outside, causing the water to slosh all over, again. He pranced around me, sniffing, and hitting me with his tail, as I tried to maneuver his gift to the ground. He was obviously as excited as I was. Three gallons of ice water, clean and cool in his new blue dish, all sparkling looking. Aahhhhh…. He sort of studied it, but his tongue never even came out of his mouth. I splashed at it, showing him that it‘s water! Without a second glance, the dog sauntered over to his old metal bowl and lapped eagerly. Ungrateful mutt. And that was that. I’d wasted enough of my time. I would get the bag of dog food out of the car, and be on my way.

I locked the front doors, and went out the garage door. Oops, forgot my car key. I turned to go back inside, and found that the door had locked behind me! My keys to my car, my home, Josh’s house, and my cell phone were all in the house. For a split second, and I do mean a split one, I thought I was trapped inside the garage! However, I quickly remembered that garages do open from the inside. (Thank goodness.)

I headed to the neighbor’s house and called my daughter who agreed to come and get me. She arrived in good time, shaking her head and laughing as she pulled up. I started to get into her car, and she says, “Don’t you have a purse?” What a dumb question, of course, I do. “Yeah, duh! but my car is locked.” I turned to my car to prove my point, grabbed the door handle, pulled on it, how ridiculous to think I could get to my purse, and the stupid door flew wide open!

She laughed harder and shook her head some more. My grandchildren also laughed…at me. But I didn’t care, I was a free woman! And better yet, laying on top of my purse was the key to Josh’s house. I don’t know how it got there, but one thing was for sure; I was going into that house, get my stuff, and get the heck out of there! And the next time the guys want to get away, I’m going with them.