aPaws on the Street – Dashing Through the Snow

By Patty L. Fletcher

Moon Phase New

Disentangling myself from Blue and rolling onto my side I asked, “Hey Siri, how’s the weather?”

“It’s currently snowing and 34 degrees. Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies starting at noon. Temperatures will be heading down from 34 degrees to 23 degrees tonight.” The bot voice replied.

“Well, Blue Boy, I reckon we’re gonna see how you go in the snow.” I said, giving him a soft pat.

Flopping onto his back Blue said, “Groan. It’s a little early, isn’t it?”

It was indeed early for us in fact, due to our having been up until nearly midnight the night before, 5:30 AM was a tad bit on the early side but I knew the weather would only worsen as the morning progressed and what with the trouble with my boots and not being sure how Blue would behave in snow I decided to get up and get to the business of the morning.

Slipping out of bed I was hit with a shock of cold and realized I’d not flipped the heat pump from air to heat before bed last night. When I’d gone to sleep it had still been in the mid-fifties and thanks to my having used the oven earlier in the evening, the apartment had been rather warm when we’d slipped off to sleep.

Once I’d gotten the heat done my morning’s routine of washing face and brushing teeth and hair, I headed for the kitchen to start the coffee and make the boy’s breakfast.

Flipping on the TV as I passed, I listened with growing concern to the weather. The snow was reported to be wet and heavy, perfect for snowmen or sliding down and breaking a bone.

Up until this winter, I’d had no real worries when dealing with snow. Oh, sure, I was always cautious, anyone with one eye and good sense is so when dealing with ice and snow but this winter had caught me a bit unprepared.

Earlier in the fall, I’d bought a pair of boots which according to the description fit my need. But when they’d arrived, they’d been just a half size or so too tight and along with the fact that they zipped up rather than just slipping on and off as I’d thought had me concerned.

However, some time back, I began living a life of total faith in Mother Father God and I knew things would be fine. Blue was a well-trained Seeing Eye® guide dog, a black Labrador golden Retriever cross for goodness’ sake and if the boots wouldn’t go on, I’d just have wet feet.

Finally, the boys who were a bit bewildered at my early morning wakefulness were eating and it was time to see if the prayer I’d been praying was going to succeed.

Taking the boots off the shelf in my closet and holding one in each hand I prayed, “May my feet shrink, and the boots grow. So, safely out into the snow Blue and I may go.”

Sitting down on my bed I said, “OK. Mother Father God, the challenge is my right foot and leg. You know they swell for reasons the doctors have never cared to discover so, as you will so mote it be.”

With that I began slipping first one foot then the other into the boots. It took a bit of effort, and the right boot did fit a bit too tight but soon I was walking about the room in my new boots collecting my phone, keys, and other detritus I carry around in my pockets throughout the day, and as I headed for my jacket and blue’s harness, I prayed…

“Thank you for the sun. Thank you now day’s begun, all my needs, wants and desires they’re met.

Thank you for what I have and have not yet.

Thank you when the day is through, I will still be me and you will still be you.

Light my path, guide my way.

Give me that which to do and say.

So Mote It Be.

Blessid Be.

Amen.”

Later, as I buckled Blue into his harness I leaned over and whispering in his ear I said, “OK. Big Blue Boy, we’re off for a new adventure. You must listen to me, and I must listen to you. Let’s do this thing.”

We stepped out the door, closing it softly behind us so as not to wake the barky dogs who lived a few doors down and slowly headed out of our breezeway.

As we made our way down the walk, the wind Whipping round us blowing swirls of snow into our faces, all my worries flew away.

Blue bounced cautiously along following my every command.

“OK Blue, Hup Hup Right.”

Slowly, we made our way to one of the relief areas I’d designated when we’d first moved in and though Blue took a minute to bounce up and catch a few flakes of snow once we were safely in the yard and he was no longer in his harness he relieved quickly, and it was time to throw away his leavings.

Slipping the harness back over his head I praised, “Great job Big Blue, now it’s time to throw this away and have a quick pee. You ready?”

“Sneeze! Snort! Shake! Yes, this is great! Let’s go!”

Turning us in the correct direction for the main walk which would take us to the dumpster I said, “OK. Big Blue let’s find that dumpster. Forward. Steady now, not too fast until we see how the sidewalks are.”

Carefully we bounced up to the dumpster and after throwing the baggy in I turned us around and once we’d made our way back onto the sidewalk I used the tip of my cane, which I’d not needed at all until then to find a grassy spot along side where we stood and removing Blue’s harness I stated, “OK. Blue, park time.”

He quickly circled around, picked out a satisfactory patch of grass and with a mighty snort into the snowy wind finished taking care of his morning necessary.

Once his harness was snuggly back in place I said, “OK Blue, Forward.” Then, turning toward the apartment, I stated, “Right! Let’s go home.”

I’d expected him to hesitate and ask to go left up the hill as we normally did for our morning walk but to my glad surprise, he went right back to our door without one protest.

“Good Boy.” I praised as he led me to the door. “You must be wanting to go back to bed.”

Soon we were back inside, coat, boots and harness removed and after allowing a wipe down Blue did indeed head for his bed.

Now, here I am, feeling silly and wondering what I worried about for I know…

There is no part of my life which does not belong to the Goddess.

There is no part of my body which does not belong to the Goddess.

I am she and she is me.

We are one yet we are we.

So Mote It Be.

Blessid Be.

Amen.

If you’d like to learn more about how I began working with Seeing Eye® guide dogs, please continue reading below.

Updated – October 2021

Patty Fletcher is a single mother with a beautiful daughter, of whom she is enormously proud. She has a great son-in-law and six beautiful grandchildren. From April 2011 through September 2020, she owned and handled a black Labrador from The Seeing Eye® named King Campbell Lee Fletcher A.K.A. Bubba. Sadly, after a long battle with illness on September 24, 2020, King Campbell went to the Rainbow Bridge where all is peace and love. In July 2021, she returned to The Seeing Eye® and was paired with a Black Labrador Golden Retriever cross named Blue.

PATTY’S BLINDNESS…

Patty was born one and a half months premature. Her blindness was caused by her being given too much oxygen in the incubator. She was partially sighted until 1991, at which time she lost her sight due to an infection after cataract surgery and high eye pressure. She used a cane for 31 years before making the change to a guide dog.

WHERE SHE LIVES AND WORKS…

Currently, Patty lives and works in Kingsport, Tenn.

She’s the creator and owner of Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing (Author, Blogger, Business Assist), The Writer’s Grapevine Online Magazine and the creator and host of the Talk to Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing Podcast.

WRITING GOAL…

Patty writes with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disabled from the non-disabled.

HOBBIES…

Patty’s hobbies include reading, music, and attending book clubs via Zoom.

FAVORITE TUNES…

Some of her favorite types of tunes are classic rock, rhythm and blues, and classic country.

FAVORITE READS…

Patty enjoys fantasy, science fiction, and books about the supernatural. She loves books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Norah Roberts, and many more. Some favorite books include Norah Roberts’ Hide Away, Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.

SPIRITUAL FAITH…

Patty describes herself as a spiritual Walker. She says she knows both Mother Goddess and Father God and embraces all they have to offer.

CONTACT…

Email: patty.volunteer1@gmail.com

AUTHOR PAGES AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS…

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/PattyFletcher

https://www.facebook.com/tellittotheworld/

https://www.facebook.com/Bubba-Tails-196761360863975/

Campbells Rambles

https://www.facebook.com/0404Campbell/

Campbells Corner

https://www.facebook.com/groups/787037261329458/

Patty & Pals

https://www.facebook.com/groups/128710790840540/

Bob Cat & Friends

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092566100770913/

TWITTER…

Tweets by bubbalee04

A most excellent interview

My Anthology Links

December Awethology Light https://www.books2read.com/u/3yPZvB

A Treasure Chest of Children’s Tales https://www.books2read.com/u/bzaAML

Legal Notes THE SEEING EYE® and SEEING EYE® are registered trademarks of The

Seeing Eye, Inc: www.SeeingEye.org