Challenges of moving

Brown paw-prints dotted the bottom of the tub. The soap bar, once whole, lay sprinkled on the white porcelain like ice cream toppings. It didn’t take a detective to know the culprit.

Kenai’s strange attraction to soap bars isn’t the only behavior I observe in our young Labrador. She recently chewed through the MI State leash, broke out of her cage, and howls at unknown sounds. Moving a dog from an area where she can run free to a space where she needs a leash on a daily basis is a definite change and probably is why she exhibits these mannerisms.

Anybody who moves will deal with new situations, requirements, and challenges. Our 2005 sabbatical included a variety of challenges, specifically with transportation. The decision not to use a car meant that public transportation and bicycles provided the way to see the country. “Op de fiets”, we often chanted, translated “on the bikes”. Sometimes, arriving at the destination seemed worthy of a celebration after using bikes, then bus, and finally the train, all with three young children.Phew!

My father, now living with my mother at Waterford, is dealing with a new menu, people, and activities. He frequently comments on the food, chosen by the nurses. ” At Royal Park, we chose our own food,” he lamented. Since that comment, the nursing staff is working on making sure he can choose his own menu. He also commented on lack of activities, but that was in the first few days. Since then, he started exercise class and visited the zoo with other residents.

All of it just takes time. Once realized, a move can be beneficial and enhance life, provide new opportunities, and allow new friendships.