Meet my enemy, waiting for me around every corner, tempting me:

The King Size Drumstick available at my neighborhood 7-11. He tempted me today as I sat here on my sofa like a slug…I could hear his voice calling to me. He used a clever ruse. He knew I had absolutely no exercise today and whispered in my ear that the several-city-blocks-long walk to 7 -11 would be good for me. Then he said that while I was there I could get money from the ATM so that I could get more quarters from the bank tomorrow for my laundry. Oh, and I could get an A & W Root Beer.

I gave in. There are now 2 of these in my freezer. These may be the reason I have not lost weight here in San Diego even though I am walking most every day. But they’re so good.

Now I want you to meet my new neighbor, Ralphie:

Look at that face. Look at those eyes. My next door neighbor here at the apartments is my husband’s friend of many, many years Adrian. He is part of the acting company this summer. Adrian lives in Los Angeles and is wonderful with dogs. He has been part of a program where dogs that really need training and rehabilitation live with foster parents for a while so that they can eventually be eligible for adoption.

Ralphie is ten years old and for most of his life he was ignored, isolated and had no social skills at all. He didn’t know what it felt like to be loved. Adrian took him in and rehabilitated him but when he proved to be a little difficult the agency wanted to put him down. My friend would have none of it. He knows it takes time to try to erase ten years of neglect. So he adopted him.

I must tell you he is the sweetest boy. He laps up any and all attention. It is as if he is making up for the past ten years. When I’m in my apartment with the door open and the screen door closed, he comes and stands there…staring. He wants to play. Today he had a tour of my apartment. I’m crazy about him.

I tell you it makes my blood boil when I hear what is done to innocent animals. I don’t understand doing that to an animal who only wants to love and be loved. Ralphie’s story reminds me of my Riley’s story. Although Riley was much younger when we adopted him, he suffered the same neglect and has issues because of it. I call him our boy with special needs. Riley, like Ralphie, just wants to be loved. And we do love him.

Thank goodness Ralphie found his loving home.