My clock says it’s 6:48 a.m. as I sit down to write this post, but actually because of Daylight Savings Time it’s really 5:48. It doesn’t matter. Ira and I are losing all track of time, days for that matter, because we can’t go anywhere or do anything and really, what’s the point? One of my friends told me to go with it and enjoy my time off, but I’m sick – my body still regularly bending over in coughing fits so violent they bring me to my knees. There’s nothing to enjoy about this.

Yesterday we decided we couldn’t take it. Ira and I packed the dogs into his SUV and drove to a nearby state park. We thought the fresh air would do us good and there wasn’t a chance of contaminating anyone. Our pups were ecstatic and it was so beautiful. We didn’t walk far or fast and I had brought my camera so the afternoon passed by quietly, but enjoyably for a change.

We needed it. We’ve been starting to get snippy with each other and since we’re taking the doctors orders to heart, we’re not seeing or talking to anyone except by phone – and except for Jeren, who isn’t at risk because he got us sick in the first place. You can say it’s been a long several days.

But back to the afternoon, because that’s more fun to talk about and it felt so good to be about. We walked through tall grasses that were over my head even, on open paths that allowed the dogs to run ahead and then come bounding back to us with such excitement in their eyes, open mouths, tales wagging and ears flying in the wind. It was a sight to see, that’s for sure.

Anabelle, our oldest kept a slower pace but her excitement was visible in the steadfast way she marched on as though on a mission. Occasionally something – a smell perhaps – would catch her attention and she would pause long enough to sniff and peruse some area of the ground and her giant paws would scratch the pathway until she was satisfied it was just a lingering smell of something long gone.  She was so fun to watch and Ira and I always take such pleasure when we know she’s having an unusually good time.

We don’t say it outloud, but we both know Saints don’t live as long as most dogs and she’s six and a half already. Anabelle’s beautiful tail is a sight to see. It is like this grand puffy plume of snow white hair that sashays to and fro above her body when she’s happy and having a fun time.

Anabelle will forever be thought of as my baby and Ira loves to remind me of all the times in her puppy days that I screamed at him, “I want her OUT of here – she’s too big and I wanted a Bichon, NOT a Saint Bernard!”  Those mutterings always followed some act of misbehavior on Anabelle’s part, but she was always almost immediately forgiven because one look at her beautiful face and I could never stay mad for long. To this day I have never seen on a dog, a more beautiful, feminine face, softly framed with brown, gently curled tendrils, that trail along her ears. She is so close to being human, and I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not, but that’s a whole other story. Today it was fun to watch her, fun to watch them all, but Anabelle – well we can’t help but savor every moment so it’s a little different.

Mr. Snickers loves to run with Chanel and they were sure a sight to see! As they ran up and down the paths, Chanel stayed close to him, her black ears flopping in the wind and her tiny legs managing to keep up the pace with her much larger brother! Ira calls her a little rocket and she lives true to the name. Her long and glamorous poodle nose points upward taking in every single smell she can while she twists and turns and jumps over what must be a make-believe obstacle course. Mr. Snickers doesn’t care about direction or speed or what’s ahead or behind him.  He is just happy to be out and his goofy smile that tells it all, makes me laugh aloud.

It really did feel good to be out – and out in such beautiful surroundings, well it was almost breathtaking. We took a short walk down a beautiful trail, but tired easily and had to turn around. It was such a beautiful day, but all too soon though Ira and I started having a hard time breathing and we knew we better get back to the safety of our home, with medicines, blankets, hot beverages, and inhalers. My God, we’re starting to sound like old people!

It wasn’t soon enough though. We hurried our dogs into the SUV and began the journey back home. Ira was beginning to show signs of shortness of breath and I was trying not to let him know about my own problems breathing. And then, in the midst of  the busy freeway, with at least five miles still to go, Ira was overtaken by a coughing fit that forced him to swerve over to the side, put the car in park and turn on the emergency lights. For nearly five minutes we remained there; cars racing past us in speeds that would have brought tickets had a policeman been in sight. And with nerves wracking, and panic already creeping up, I couldn’t find my inhaler and all I could do was pat Ira on the back and hope I didn’t need to call an ambulance. He kept shaking his head in between coughs, and I continued to look and pat – and then all of a sudden, there it was. I hurriedly shook it and handed it over and then watched as he attempted to breath deeply and take in the medicine that shot out of the sprayer.

Thankfully, and within a few seconds Ira had calmed down, his breaths were even and slow again and we were able to resume our drive home. It was scary, but it was over – a bit more excitement than we had bargained for.

Once home, wrapped in blankets and in the comfort of my big chair I buried myself in my computer, and transferred our photos from the camera to my hard drive. Later, Ira and I huddled on the couch with more warm blankets and hot cocoa, scrolled through them, laughing at Mr. Snickers and Chanel’s antics captured so vividly and sighing at Anabelle, who was truly as happy as we’ve ever seen her, that beautiful tail billowing about.

We’ll remember that day for years to come. It probably shouldn’t have been, but had it not, we would have never known what we missed. As beautiful as the day was, and as enchanting as the landscape was in its vibrant splendor of colors, our babies were what captured us the most.

So… maybe because I have so much time on my hands, or maybe because they are just spectacular, here are some remnants of our somewhat ill-fated, but enjoyable day out.