I always say: the job of a therapy dog begins in the home. My three therapy dogs certainly proved that true over the past ten days as I lay on the couch resting my aching back. All three of my sweet, comforting in-home therapy dogs lay by my side the entire time. It all started with my hand:
I had spent the past month recovering from surgery on my left hand. I needed to strictly limit my use of the hand (I’m left-handed!), which meant, in particular, things like gardening. That would definitely be in the category of over-use. I listened to doctor’s orders and followed them closely. When given, the green light to resume activities (yay! gardening!), I was like a race horse out-of-the-starting-gate. That Saturday was gorgeous. It was warm, sunny, and breezy. It had rained the night before. The soil was moist and ripe for planting. My friend and I had been to a new garden center, Walker Farm, in Dummerston, Vermont, where I had purchased three must-have new plants. I had clearance and up into my Hillside Garden I went. I dug up huge clumps of perennials (14 in all), these were major extractions, requiring deep digging, then relocation. I kept going, discounting my aching hand that the doctor told me would hurt (but, that’s okay, it’s healed, he had assured me). On and on I went. I was in heaven. It had been a whole month since I had been out in my beloved gardens. I was lost in another world. I emerged six hours later as I suddenly realized that the sun was far in the western sky. I started the sprinkler system, gathered my tools, and, covered in dirt, I headed inside. What a great afternoon it had been. I fed the dogs, and while they ate, I showered and started to prepare dinner. Exhausted, I headed to bed right after dinner.
The next morning it hit: OH MY ACHING BACK!!! I couldn’t stand upright. I was in agony. Nothing helped. Sitting was the worst position. This made it impossible to be on the computer for more than 5 minutes. The only thing I could do was lie flat. So, on the couch I lay surrounded by my therapy dogs. James lay along side me on the couch, Lily lay on the floor against the couch. She actually wanted to come up on the couch, too. But, she wanted to lie on top of me – a bit too much weight to hold for my back. Little Annie took her favorite pose on the footstool that was set against the couch. These were their posts, day in and day out. They took breaks now and then, but resumed positions immediately.
I’m now fine. Yay! But, am I heading to the garden? Not yet. And, never again for hours on end. Big lesson learned: everything in moderation.