The Life of a Dog

Barley is my almost 11 year old Yellow Labrador Retriever. She's pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I met Barley Just over 2 years ago in January of 2008. She belonged to a friend of mine and I was housesitting for her while she was on vacation in Hawaii for ten days.

Later that year, after I graduated from college, I moved into my friend's house and rented a room from her for ten months. That summer I got a job teaching and starting that August started the 40 minute commute to work and back each day. Barley was always waiting for me when I got home. She would snuggle with me on the couch, follow me around the house. She was my puppy shadow.

At the end of October, my grandfather died. He and I were very close throughout my whole life and losing him was a blow I was not prepared for. I spent the weekend at my parents' and on Sunday returned home and there was Barley. She slept upstairs with me that night and as I started to cry, she snuggled up closer to me, nuzzling me with her mostly white face. She slept with her head resting on my that whole night, as if trying to reassure me that I wasn't alone.

That spring I found an apartment closer to where I was working and decided it was time to truly live on my own. I was nervous, but I knew that it would be a great change for me. I was already starting to miss Barley, thinking about who was going to sleep on my floor and keep me company. I decided to start looking for a Lab/Lab Mix rescue on petfinder.com with similar disposition to Barley.

On March 31st, 2009, days before I was moving out and also my birthday, I met my mom and brother for dinner at a local restaurant. I went on and on about how I was hoping to find a dog like Barley.

I got home and my friend started asking me what my new apartment was like. I explained that I'd be living in a open concept studio apartment that had decent space and also be living on a lake. Then came the clincher: she asked if I wanted to take Barley with me? I was so surprised. I couldn't believe what she was asking! As tears started clouding up my eyes, I nodded yes. But then I questioned her why... her reply was Barley would miss me too much and that Barley and I had a bond that she and Barley would never have. And so that Saturday, I moved out and into my very first apartment, totally on my own, with one of the world's greatest dogs.

She is my shadow. Always happy to see me when I walk through the door at the end of the day. Waiting and ready to stick her nose in the fridge whenever I open it, hoping, just hoping that she'll get her favorite treat: a raw carrot. Happy to go for a ride, or a walk, or just to snuggle with me while I watch a movie.

I love my energetic, sometimes crazy, absolutely awesome and loving Labrador Retriever.

Right on, Glenn!

I stumbled upon  a post on a blog written by Glenn Close and she surprised me with her honesty about the topic: MENTAL ILLNESS. It was not something I was expecting, nor was I looking for it, but when I saw it, I was intrigued, and so, I read.

It comes down to one thing according to Close, the stigma around mental illness needs to be lifted. It should be talked about and portrayed accurately. We've made stunning medical advances, yet, people still shy away from getting the help that is available. The reason? Fear. Fear of being judged by others. Fear of being feared because, so often, mental illness is portrayed as a danger to society.

All I have to say, is the only danger mental illness poses on society, is society not realizing how ordinary it is. So many people suffer from some form of mental illness... and they do not pose a threat to anyone. Depression is a mental illness. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental illness. Mental illnesses are everywhere. Bi-polar is a mental illness and most of these individuals are not a danger to anyone! I have a friend who is bi-polar and she's one of the gentlest, most honest people I know!!!!!!!!!

Glenn Close is right... TV and media have to stop portraying everyone with a mental illness as dangerous or threatening. It just isn't so!