The Further Rescue Of Pepper & Rex

Do you like to read? Do you find it is a stress-reliever to immerse yourself in a book? I do!

In fact, I rummage through thrift stores, second-hand stores and consignment shops, in order to always have a ’stash’ of paperback books ready for reading. All kinds of topics and all genres are stacked on the shelf above my bed, ready for instant retrieval when I have some spare time, or when I’m trying to let my inner mind work on another problem or solution. I have become expert in finding top quality books for 10 cents to 39 cents. If I pay much more than $1.00, I feel obligated to read it right away.

My last post was about puppy-proofing from Pepper and Rex, two enormous young furbaby rescues who are going through their ‘terrible teens’ right now. Did I mention how energetic they are? Yes? Well, did I mention how tall they are? No? I don’t think I did because I don’t think I was fully aware of just how much those two can get into.

Yesterday, I walked into my allegedly puppy proofed bedroom and found a treat. NO, not that kind of treat!

What I found was a brilliantly colored mound of shredded-paperback-book-confetti. They were standing on my bed having a good ol’ time, gaily tossing bits of pages and parts of covers around on the comforter, the pillows and the floor. As nearly as I can tell from the damaged evidence, they only shredded 5 books.

Here’s where the rescue part comes in:

I started to get irritated, even though they were obviously having a great time, when I suddenly remembered destroyed books from the past. Yes, the image of the newly-released best-seller library book that Wizard destroyed, just after his sister Rhonda completely chewed-up my $300 bifocals, sprang into my mind. That book cost me $24.95 to replace and new glasses were MUCH more expensive.

During that period of time, about eleven years ago, I had a number of good-sized energetic puppies who demolished so many library books (no matter how I tried to hide them) that the library revoked my card. Which was stupid, when they were making so much money off of me! As a matter of fact, my Multiple Sclerosis had progressed to the point that I had ample time to read and no energy to do anything else. I checked so many books out of our little local library that they DOUBLED the number of hours they paid a librarian to stay open.

Then, after my library card was revoked, I discovered the fascinating world of CHEAP second-hand books, and I never looked back.

Later still, about five years after my library card was revoked, my MS got really bad. Whenever I fell down (poor balance is a classic symptom of MS) Wizard and Rhonda, already mature, stable and ENORMOUS, would come to me so I could pull myself back up over them, then they would guide me to a seat or bed.

Wizard and Rhonda, almost as large as Wolfhounds, are now twelve and a half years old. I am in remission from my MS, so I don’t have to lean on their old tired bodies, even if they were still strong enough to pull me up. I don’t know how much longer I will have them with me, but I’d give anything to have those two be young and feisty and into everything again, like in the past. What’s the cost of a few books, or even eyeglasses, compared to happy and healthy furbabies?

All of these thoughts went flashing through my mind as I viewed Rex with a lavender-colored book cover in his mouth. He was playfully holding it just out of Pepper’s reach, and looking very proud of himself. Yes, I should have disciplined both of them more firmly. All I did was take the cover from his mouth, tell both of them “NO!” in a stern manner, then proceeded to shoo them off the bed while I picked up and swept up the ‘confetti’ all over the room. After I moved all the books to a higher, safer position, I reviewed the incident and what a terrible disciplinarian I’ve become.

Yes, friend, Pepper and Rex were both ‘rescued’ by my memories.

PuppyLove