From the SPA
By Mauri Formogini, Sept 22, 2006

Backing out of La-La Land

A month ago, I opted for a knee replacement and all that major surgery entails. Please bear with me. Somewhere along the line, I was given several cortisone shots to assist in managing the pain and recovery.

However, there are consequences to morphine and cortisone that I would rather skip. One is a memory wipe, from which I am finding it hard to recover but am doing so slowly. Another is the dreaded paranoia and delusions about reality, which they called a “state of confusion.” And so another week in the hospital, which does not restore one’s rightful place in the world. What helped me was returning to my own bed, my own friends, my kitties waiting on the bed and the joyful reunion with my dogs that didn’t care how I smelled or looked, and for the first time I felt at peace and could sleep through the night.   

Repairing different body parts is more of a possibility as we age, and it is a good thing. Soon, I will be walking my dogs comfortably in the campo, and all this will be a bad dream. Remember that your animals know who you are, and you can rely on them to ease you out of the funk, which is only temporary. So the beat goes on and so do we, and we must celebrate it! Please consider adding a few living creatures to your home. Nothing has given me more joy.

A really good bet for a reality check is the dog Tellina, an adorable furball that appears to be unreal, though I know she is. She’s medium-sized with amazing brown eyes and looks for all the world like a small, gray English sheepdog.

This picture does not show her personality; it was taken shortly after she had lost two puppies. She is now fully recovered, although a bit reticent with new people. She is open for new experiences and attachments and someone else to love. I would take her in a New York minute and would love to have her as part of my entourage. Why she hasn’t been chosen is a mystery to me, but so it goes. Please take a look at her. She is not purse-sized, but she is large enough to scare away an intruder and still be a loyal love to her family. She could be perfect for you.

Best of show for our many kitties is Rapunzel, I think. She is a beauty and looks the part of a seductress you would climb great heights to rescue. We have many kittens to choose from, but the older cats display their grown personalities more vividly, and that is a real advantage. Please stop by and check out Rapunzel and some of the others as well. It is a great privilege and an honor to see what you are getting. Also please stop by the Jardín on Thursdays from 11:15am to 1:15pm to see what hopeful animals we have brought for you to see and play with. It’s a great day and the animals are so pleased to be groomed and fussed over.

Come visit the SPA at Los Pinos 7, just of Calzada de la Estación, from Monday to Friday between noon and 2pm to volunteer or to choose a pet. Call Mauri at 154-5930 for more information, or call the SPA at 152-6124 to make an appointment for the clinic.