How Do You Make A Bed?

How do you make a bed?

Before this past Easter Sunday, I thought you’d pull up the sheet and blanket, smooth out the wrinkles just so, and drag the bedspread / coverlet / quilt over the top. Throw pillows “tossed” (So who really believes that?) a tiny bit askance along the headboard and a comforter fixed “just so," I thought, suggested order with a casual air and decorative know-how.

Not so! After daughter Christine, her husband Daniel, and their children Jacob, Micah, Rebecca, Sarah, Susannah, Johanna, and Josiah left Sunday, I began pulling sheets off the six beds and crib. Upstairs I stripped Jacob’s bed. Downstairs in the “nursery” I removed queen-size sheets and a crib sheet before opening the door to the “dormitory,” home to three full-size beds, one single, and an antique trundle bed.

When I walked into the girls’ dormitory I laughed and almost cried when I saw my antique spindle bed, its headboard lined with stuffed animals and two “stuffs” tucked gently under the sheet. Which of my daughter’s daughters (ages 11, 9, 7, 6, 2) thought of that? I don’t know. But being a wise (?) grandmother with insight into her grandchildrens' personalities, I have a hunch. And I know that once the idea was broached, the other granddaughters participated eagerly.

Anyhow, I want to leave the old spindle bed from my dad's family as is, complete with stuffed animals on the headboard and tucked under the covers. But I can't do that. Sheets must be changed, stuffed animals--depending on Yellow Dog's munching whims at the moment-- will disappear. But the next time I make the bed, I'll place the "stuffs" as they are now. I took a picture, a picture that will bring back memories of Easter 2008 and of grandchildren loved and remembered. And if my grandchildren read this, I do love you and will always remember you and the joy you've brought into my life.

Yellow Dog

I don’t know his name. I don’t know anything about him except that his personality makes you want to wrap your arms around him, promise him that you will love him and take care of him for the rest of his life. His hair is blonde, eyes light brown. I call him Yellow Dog. Yellow Dog doesn’t jump on people, gets along well with our aged dog Angus and with children. He appears to be a yellow Lab mix, probably weighs around 60 pounds.

Starved for affection but shy at first, he showed up at our house on February 29, 2008. He’s been here ever since. His old too-tight collar (he now has a collar that fits) had no tags, and there was no identification tattoo on his body. Husband Ron took Yellow Dog to the vet to see if he had an embedded microchip, but the answer was no.

Somebody somewhere loves and misses this special dog. At least I hope so. I hate to think that some person would abandon such a nice fellow. I honestly don’t understand how anybody in their right mind could just drop off an unwanted animal. But then again, look at what Michael Vick and other dog fighting enthusiasts have done. Aaarrrggghhh! Sometimes I could just scream! And sometimes I do.

I’ve listed Yellow Dog in the Found section of the classifieds in many newspapers. I received one call from a couple in Amherst, but he wasn’t their missing dog. I was sorry. They seemed nice.

If you recognize this dog, please contact me at www.srsrmail@b2xonline.com.