Thankful

Yesterday, while the turkey cooked in the oven and the Cowboys game hummed on the television, my dog lifted his leg and peed on the good couch in my parents' living room.

This was his second show of the day.  His matinee performance was taking a dump on the welcome mat directly inside the front door.  Happy Holidays, family!

I braced myself for the screams, insults and tears over the stained upolstery.  Coop cowered in the corner, probably expecting the same. I held my breath and got up to get the carpet cleaner.

"Oh Cooper!  Come here, baby.  What's wrong with you?  What happened, puppy?"  My sister and mom gathered him into their laps, petting him and reassuring him he was okay.  Minutes later, my mom got up and actually gave the dog who crapped in her house and peed on her couch a bone.  This is when I remembered that Cooper can do no wrong in the minds of my family members and breathed a sigh of relief.

No, I don't have a dog who regularly uses my house as his toilet, so I'll be taking him to the vet to see if he's got some sort of bladder infection.  But I'm thankful I have the type of family who reacts with compassion and love when one of their family members stumbles a little. 

And I'm thankful that, at 31, I got carded three times trying to buy wine.  Hey, it might not seem like much but I'll take any compliment I can get!