Like many of our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs that are involved in school programs, Coco was on vacation last week. But, you will soon learn, as you read her report, she wasn’t just lying around the house doing nothing. As always – in her own words – Here’s Coco…
There was no school for Mom and me this past week, but we kept busy. Last Saturday, we went to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke with six other Bright Spot therapy dog teams. We spent two hours visiting with several residents and their families. One woman, who let me get on her bed, said, “It is way too long between these visits…” She talked a lot about the dogs she had owned and how happy it makes her to see all the dogs. Mom spent about fifteen minutes talking with and listening to another woman, who just seemed to need someone to talk to. She talked about her family, where she grew up, meeting her husband, and her children and grandchildren. She and Mom talked about the pictures on her walls and about years gone by. I enjoy visiting the Soldiers’ Home each month – there are so many people who seem so happy to see all of us.
On Monday, Mom and I visited our local nursing home. We visit once or twice each week, and it was nice to see our friends there and to meet some new residents. There was also a small puppy there, visiting some of the residents. I really wanted to play, but Mom reminded me that “play” is not the purpose of our visits. One of the men at the nursing home, whom we see every time we visit, said, “It is so nice that you come to see us each week, Coco – it really makes us happy and cheers us up.” It really makes me happy, too.
Wednesday evening, we traveled to Greenfield for our class with Pam Murphy at NB Productions. As usual, I learned so much from being there. The distractions are good for me!
Saturday, Mom and I went to Mom’s mother’s – my grandmother’s – library in northern Vermont. My grandmother is a retired school librarian and she now runs a volunteer library that is open two days a week. She likes to have different “attractions” so people will gather for snacks, conversation, and reading. I guess I was the “attraction” this week. Mom read a book about dogs to the children, and she talked to the adults and children about therapy dogs (training, Bright Spot, events and activities, etc.). Children took turns reading to me and talking to me and petting me. One little boy kept coming back so Mom would read to him or help him put together a puzzle while he petted me. The youngest was a few months old, and the oldest was probably ten or so. Gram took a picture of each child with me, and then each decorated a frame for the picture. It was great working with such young children since I am so accustomed to working with middle schoolers. The children were happy to spend time with me, and the adults were very interested in therapy dog teams and the work they do.
Finally, on Sunday, Mom and I went with three other Bright Spot teams to Western New England College for a Therapy Dog Stress-Relief Event. It was neat to work with college students – they are very interesting and much more mature than the students I generally work with. One student said, “I think we should do this every Sunday!” Lots of students talked to Mom and me about their dogs at home, how much they missed them, and how nice it was to spend time with dogs.
I have enjoyed the vacation week with Mom. As I’d hoped, we did get some snowshoeing and walking in. This week, it is back to school for both of us. Although we appreciated the break, we are both looking forward to getting back into our routine.