A dog walk

One of you read my last entry and said a prayer for me, didn't you? Was it Deb? I know someone did. Someone did that for me, probably even knowing that I am an atheist. Maybe that fact even made the prayer more special. Let me tell you how I know.

Like most warm evenings, I took the hog dog beagles out for their several mile walk. Today's walk was about 3 miles. It was a beautiful evening. The sky was blue; the clouds were high and wispy. The temperature was that exact level where I just can't feel it at all. It seems to be perfect for my skin. The dogs were happy to go and were pacing along rather well.

About halfway, I went around a corner. In front of me I saw a couple with three little ankle biters. I don't recall seeing them before, but I hoped to get by them without the girls noticing them. Baby tends to act out in front of other dogs lately. I was doing well distracting them when one of the little shark baits saw my hogs and started to whine.

That did it. Baby went freako on me, and I was almost ripping skin off my hand trying to hold her leash back. Molly started to choke. That had nothing to do with the leash - she hadn't been paying much attention to the little dogs. She has a soft palate issue and sometime starts to chuff, and she just can't breathe well. I did what I always do.

I hit the ground, put my arm around her, and softly petted her, whispering, "You are the best dog in the world, Molly, you are OK. You will be fine. Just relax," over and over. The words and my tone seem to calm her and she is usually able to breathe normally within a few minutes. At the same time, Baby is still chomping at the bit and straining my torn rotator cuff.

Finally, I stand up again and try to get them slowly moving. Molly starts to chuff again, Baby resumes her barking, and my cell phone rings. (I should be glad I wasn't wearing the capris that went south on me before, because this would have been the moment they went again.)

"Mom? I found a car like the one I wanted, and I am in it right now for a test drive but I wanted to ask you about it...." She has to be able to hear Baby barking her head off, maybe she can even hear Molly chuffing in the background. She doesn't stop at all. "They want $20,000 for the car, but I am approved for $17,000, and it's blah blah...."

I took a deep breath and decided to wing it. "I bet they paid between $9,000 and $11,000 for that car. My guess is it's not worth more than $15,000. Maybe you were approved for a loan of $17,000, but remember we talked about how you need to keep some money available for sales tax of 6% and the other fees, plus paying off your lease on your current car."

"Where are you? I wanted you to look up the Blue Book value for me."

"Child, you should have already had all that in your head by now before you went to look at cars."

"Yes, I know, and my friend whose father works for Chrysler is on the phone now getting the Blue Book value from him...."

"Child? The car isn't worth more than $15,000. Start dealing. Make an offer, tell him you want to make a deal. If he can't get close to what you want, leave. Also, I need you to stay overnight with the dogs one time so I can have a sleep study done."

"I can deal with the car salesman. I can stay with your dogs. That is not a problem."

"Do you need a laugh? The doctor says he thinks I have narcolepsy."

"Mom? You never sleep!"

Did you get the part where she said "that is not a problem?" Thanks to whomever made that prayer for me :)

The Blue Book Value is $15,000 for the car, we found out (good guess, mom!). The dealer went down to $16,000. Child may have a new car later this week!

I may have an ulcer by the end of the week, but I will be able to do the sleep study. The clinic may never be the same.