The Ups and Downs in Life
A friend invited me to go with her and her husband to see a litter of Pekingese and to help her to decide whether or not to buy one of the puppies. They were late arriving, and when they did arrive they explained they had been in a minor car accident; a jeep rear ended them just about a mile from my home. Accidents are one of the downs in life, having to deal with the insurance claim, the vehicle repairs to the broken tail light and dented bumper with scratches, and upset to plans. But they were happy nevertheless and we were still going to go look at the 8 week old Pekingese puppies, perhaps just what they wanted and have been searching for. This evening was an up occasion for us.
I got in their SUV and we were on the way to Cave Creek, Arizona (North of Phoenix) to possibly select their new Pekingese puppy, it had to be a girl puppy to be a mate for their AKC show quality male, Mofasha. After a short drive on Interstate I-17, then turning off at Care Free Highway, we arrived at a lovely new home. The air was crisp and clean, stars shining brightly in the winter's night sky. The Christmas wreath on the entry door hinted their was happiness in the home within.
We were welcomed by Chris and her family. A Christmas tree with lights twinkled through the front window and holiday decorations, some still in boxes, seasonally added to our warm welcome. It was the most unusual home I have ever seen. We entered into the front hall with a living room at street level and 8 or so steps leading up to the dining room and kitchen where the Pekingese puppies/parents were .... once in the kitchen you go down about 10 steps to a lower level family room or 10 steps up to the bedrooms and bath area (2 cats were sitting on the stairway looking at us quizzically). The kitchen had an open balcony overlooking the family room with fireplace below and from elevated kitchen level and dining room, an open balcony looks down to the living room where we had entered.This home had more ups and downs than any I had ever visited before. Chris works for Farmers Insurance Agency, and I am sure she works with customers, their life's ups and downs daily.
Jeri and her husband were jubilant and immediately knew they had found their Pekingese puppy plus we were very surprised to learn Chris had another litter of 5 Pekingese puppies only 5 days old and there was one female in that litter also. Jeri joyfully put a deposit on that one too so now we were all up, smiling, and satisfied with 2 new Pekingese puppies selected. Chris showed us their pedigrees, we could see the puppies parents were exceptional in every way, and Jeri got the necessary AKC application registration papers after paying Chris for her new puppy. We said thank you, said our goodbyes then left with the warm new puppy cradled in Jeri's hands.
Safely returning to my home, I invited Jeri in to give her some puppy biscuits, an exercise gate to make a safe area for the new puppy, and some training pads. She looked at my Pekingese and held the one new expectant Mother soon to have a litter of Pekingese puppies just in time for Christmas, the same Mother of her male Pekingese, Mofasha, born last year. We hugged one another and said goodbye. Tonight was an up time in our lives and memories are made up of moments like these.
I laid down to go to sleep and did so quickly. It had been a long day. The next morning I thought about how many up and downs there are in our life just like the up and down stairs in Chris's many levels home. The next time you are down, look for the stairs leading up.
