Matilda had her three week diagnostic check-up yesterday at Blue Pearl, and we are waiting for some of the results, but everything that was done yesterday showed a healthy dog with no signs of cancer. Matilda’s foot injury seems to be healing well, but is still not completely healed.  Today we should learn more. Of course, the sad truth is that it isn’t possible to know how long the remission will last. It could be a month, or it could be more. We find ourselves in this difficult place of slightly muzzled hope. One thinks “If only I could really learn to stay in the moment”. This moment is the one where Tillie is resting calmly and peacefully on her red dog bed without a care in the world. I imagine us sailing along on a cloud. She is alive, with soft fur, sweet face and a cute bandage on her foot.

And so we segue into our unexpected happening aspect of Lymphoma and chemo. Unbeknownst to many of us, Matilda has a secret boyfriend at Chemo. Lately, some pictures of them together were leaked to me, and to her boyfriend’s people! His name is Coby, and he is a Golden Retriever. I think there was a little gossip earlier, and some speculation, but now it has been confirmed. Not only is there a lot of cuddling and nuzzling going on, but Matilda is now officially a Cougar-Greyhound. Coby is only four years old . (Matilda is 13). Of course, it is bittersweet that they have met and formed this great love at a time in their lives when they both face death. But do they know this? I don’t think so. And of course, we all face death. Most of the time we carry on as if we didn’t know this. We must celebrate this love between Coby and Matilda. I hope that they both are healthy long enough to have a reunion visit (and more).

(Coby wrote an e-mail about himself and Matilda, but Matilda is not sure that she can get it onto this post. If she can’t, she will do it over the weekend).