Dexter
As soon as Mark retired, he started looking for a dog;
rather, he talked about looking for a dog. He worked for the
University of Wisconsin-Sauk County for twenty-five years. He loved
to work; he directed two plays each semester and taught four or five
classes. It was not unusual for him to work sixty hours a week. Work
was his life. He was an amazing teacher and director; he had been
nominated as teacher of the year several times and students often
spoke of the profound impact he had on their lives.
We knew something was wrong about five years ago (2003); his anxiety
level was in the stratosphere, he was having difficulty using his
computer and grades were impossible for him. When we got the
diagnosis of a neurological impairment with all the characteristics
of early onset Alzheimer’s, it was almost a relief. We finally had a
name for it. He retired and started on a new regiment of
medications.
But, he was a man who had always been busy—and when he first retired
he seemed sad. He was able to focus on his health too much and there
was nothing he could do about it.
One day, Cindy told us the darling golden she was training was not
going to make it as a WAGS dog because of all his glorious energy –
just too much for someone with a physical disability. I was only
concerned about the cost…after all we were teachers and our youngest
son had just come home from the military and the war in Iraq so
money was flowing a bit too quickly. I walked into the door the
night she told me about Dexter and had a picture of Dexter all ready
to show him - and the costs be damned. Mark strolled in with a smug
grin and announced that he had just won a $500 jackpot on the nickel
slot machines at Ho Chunk. It was fate, Dexter was coming home.
Dexter has been a godsend. He joined our family on June 7, 2006 and
now Mark has a full time job: he walks Dexter twice daily, is
responsible for all his daily needs, and he has a companion. He has
provided us fun. Now we have a focus, a wonderful, playful, healthy
focus. We are constantly watching him, chatting with him ,
discussing his “cuteness” or his “chewing”, or thinking of places to
take him that are different than his normal routine. In 33 years of
marriage we rarely went to parks, now we check out the walking
trails, and we walk and talk every night after dinner with Dexter.
I don’t know how long I have with Mark. All I can do is take each
day as it comes. The days with Dexter in them are richer and more
content—for this I can only be thankful. While he didn’t make it as
a WAGS dog, he is still providing a valuable service—improving the
quality of life of my beloved husband--hopefully for many years to
come.
Return to Changing Lives
|
|
