Ginnie came to me bright and early the day before my birthday. “There's an issue with Buddy.”
“Ah, oh.” I didn't like the sound of the word 'issue.' “Oh, what's that?” I asked, trying to act nonchalant.
"Papa Swarm" gives Gator rides to grandkids on his 70th birthday, minus Buddy. It was at this point Ginnie broke down. “I feel terrible,” she said, covering her face with her hands, and speaking between her palms, like the words were secret. “For your birthday,” she confessed, “I got you some gourmet dark chocolate from Missouri. I had it hidden in the closet. Buddy found it and ate it—all three bars.”
It was 6:00 a.m. The veterinarian wouldn't open until 8:00. I put Buddy outside, and he went about his business shamed faced. “Let's get our exercising done,” I told Ginnie. “Then call the vet.”
I knew Ginnie was distraught when she climbed off the treadmill halfway through her 30-minute routine, with AC-DC singing “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” to go out and check on Buddy. When I finished my 30 minutes on the elliptical, I took another look at Buddy. He was lying on his side in his outdoor pen, panting. I knew then that we, indeed, had an 'issue.'
The veterinarian took Buddy's temperature, felt his tummy, looked at his eyes and gums, and listened to his heart. “Tachycardia,” he said. “Buddy needs to go to Iowa City where they can keep an eye on him.”
Away we went. Ironically, the name of the facility I was instructed to take Buddy to is, “Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails.” Buddy's eyes were not bright and his tail, although bushy (his breed is nicknamed Saber Tail), was droopy. Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails is a wonderful emergency animal facility, and Buddy had the pleasure of spending the night. And the next night. I just handed over my credit card and didn't whine.
Meanwhile, back at the Empty Nest Farm, we had a wingding of a birthday party for my 70th birthday. Seventy! Who would have “thunked” it? Both of my kids were in attendance, with their kids, along with Ginnie's sister. We had 24 oz t-bones on the grill, sweetcorn, “mushmellon,” sliced garden tomatoes, cucumber salsa, hotdogs and macaroni-and-cheese for the kids, “pink fluff” and, for the grand finale, zucchini-chocolate birthday cake. Yippee! It was delicious! The only thing missing was Buddy.
“Papa Swarm” got to give his grandkids rides on the Gator, and help them roast ginormous marshmallows over a bonfire for s'mores. Then it was the special treat of throwing sweetcorn cobs in for the chickens—they go nuts—and petting Blossom. Those ornery grandkids even enticed “Papa Swarm” into a game of tag. It was the best birthday I've ever had.
As I was catching my breath, I thought, “Ha! Buddy might have been doing me a favor by eating that chocolate. He knew I didn't need all those calories.” I have been losing weight on the E&E Diet (Eggs & Exercise). To date, I've lost 43 pounds and am down to 191—shooting for 180. Ginnie has joined me and is the slimmest I've ever seen her. Woo Woo!
Buddy came home after the second day and was bright eyed and bushy tailed. I want to thank all of Buddy's Facebook Friends for their prayers and kind words.
Next week, details of the E&E Diet.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook. Curt's stories are also read at 106.3 FM in Farmington.
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