Tilly's Pats

Tilly hated us when we first met. “Dogs do NOT belong here,” she stated when she first saw us. I felt slighted, at first. Then I learned that no one was listening. When I met her, she didn’t have any friends. Maybe that’s why she would always be sitting on the sofa that was adjacent to the dining room waiting for us to arrive on our visiting days all alone.

She was a small woman. She only stood about five feet tall, but she had a ton of spunk, and she loved to debate anything and everything. She was quite agile when she wanted to be, yet oftentimes she would nod off as we sat relaxing on the couch in the afternoon – once she came to accept us. In the beginning, it seemed like most people were glad when she fell asleep. The usual crowd of visitors would finally walk over and initiate a conversation with me or interact with the dogs, as Tilly slept quietly next to us. It didn’t take long for her to change her mind, thanks to Hardy’s antics.

Hardy loved Tilly. Once she had decided to sit down with us, she was like putty in his hands. He would just cuddle up next to her and lie down for awhile. Then he would perform his trademark behavior. He would take his muzzle and nudge underneath the palm of her hand so as to encourage her to pet him. How could she resist? Just as research suggested, sharing time with Hardy seemed to calm whatever what was bothering her. It got so that whenever we would arrive, she would be waiting for us, or she would just be finishing her lunch and come over to plop down on the sofa, cantankerous attitude and all. By the time she patted Hardy’s back a few times, it would bring out her gentle nature.

As our visits became commonplace for her, it was Tilly who would be quietly waiting on the couch watching all of the residents come and go, awaiting our arrival. Once we would arrive, Hardy would snuggle up with her and eventually she would nod off. This would signal the other residents to move into our inner circle. It would also be the signal for Hardy to jump down and perform for them. By the time Tilly awoke, most of the visitors had already enjoyed our company and had moved on with their day. Sometimes this was the time I would engage in conversation with her, other times I would simply say good –bye and move on with my day.

After her afternoon nap with Hardy, Tilly would be refreshed and revitalized. She would then get up and wander around the nearby gaming area and join into a game of cards or do a jigsaw puzzle. If the weather was nice, she would go outside for a walk. When it was she who would move on she would always inquire about when we would be back to visit again, remarking that she hoped it would be soon.