Play Dates and Ear Aches

I've never seen a human being busier than my father. Church and work keep him busy and running beyond the capabilities of most people.

Despite all this, he volunteered to babysit Jane on Friday night when our babysitter fell threw. He said it brought him some much needed joy and happiness. And my, does that little girl love her grandpa. She couldn't wait to see us go ... Grandpa -- bad knees and all -- will get down on the floor with her and crawl around (no one else really does that).

So not only was my dad watching Jane on Friday night, but he was playing nursemaid to his dog.

Our little Bridgy Bridge (read: Bridget) has a serious ear infection. The poor dear is on pain meds and some other pill to combat the yeast infection.

She came home Friday from the vet, after being sedated,  not at all her usual bouncy, begging-for-love self. We all felt pity on her. Dad still told us to go. And, although he tried all night, he couldn't get her to take her pills. Finally, when we came home, Lane and my dad concocted a brilliant plan to get her to take her meds.

I came down the stairs to see Lane on the kitchen floor with Bridgewater hand-feeding her kernels of the dog food. Later, when I came into the family room, I saw both grown men on the floor with Bridget between them basking in love and attention.

It all reminded me of the first time my mom met Lane.

There we were, in Disneyland, and as Lane walked in front of us with my niece and nephew tugging on both his arms vying for his attention, my mom turned to me with a serious look and asked:

"He has a dog that he's very attentive to, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Well there you have it. You can't fool dogs or children. He's a keeper."

Turns out, she was right.