I’ve written here before about how picky I am when it comes to buying jigsaw puzzles. Among other criteria, I like my puzzles to have a distinct personality. I will scroll through many, many pages of offerings on Amazon before finding a puzzle I want to work on, and sometimes even then I will go back and forth in my mind on a particular puzzle before adding it to my cart.
In the case of the puzzle pictured above (which I completed yesterday) it was a case of love at first sight. Mostly because I love pit bulls – they have a permanent place in my heart.
In early 2015 I had just completed 10 months of treatments for breast cancer and I was emotionally a mess. I don’t think using the term post traumatic stress syndrome is going too far. I needed something to help me get out of my own head – a way to project myself outward into the world instead of inward into my fearful, anxious mind. After looking at the possibilities close to home, I decided to start volunteering at our local humane society, and I asked Sam to come along with me to keep me company.
After training, we started off small – in the cat room. We “socialized” the cats by talking to them and petting them. Many of the cats were skittish and fearful of humans, but we were able to hold some of them in our laps and cuddle. And then we found out, gradually, that Sam is pretty allergic to cats. So, we trained to become dog walkers. And that’s when the fun really started. We loved it, and were a great team.
The dog population of our humane society at the time had a high percentage of pit bulls and pit bull mixes. I must admit I was a little nervous at the start, because of the bad reputation pit bulls have gotten over the years. Sam and I found, however, that every pit bull we encountered was a “good boy” or a “good girl.” They were sweet, affectionate, and eager to please. Sure, there were a few with rusty manners, but I can say that about approximately 50% of all humans I encounter in the world. There was never a time when I was afraid of any pit bull we walked.
As I worked on the puzzle, I thought about all the sweet pitties (and others) we met during the two years we volunteered. I realized I miss the experience (when Sam went away to college I decided I didn’t want to go it alone) and I am now contemplating going back.
Here are some photos that I hope will make you smile on this lovely Sunday. xoxo
