April 2024

Serendipity

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         Whenever I think of the word "Serendipity" I always think of a place in New York City we used to take the kids to for ice cream. The name intrigued me whenever we went there. The place was filled from top to bottom with whimsical and unique things. The food was always good. But most times we just went there for the ice cream sundaes and their signature hot chocolate. It was like an old fashioned iconic ice cream parlor. The original Serendipity closed and recently reopened as Serendipity3. We haven't ventured back, but my memories of the place remain very joyful and happy. I often wondered why they chose the name "Serendipity." The term “serendipity” is a circumstance or event characterized by a fortunate or happy accident, or an unexpected and pleasant discovery. What was the serendipitous event that brought the owners to choose that name for their restaurant? That always  sparked my curiousty. So, I went on their web site and this is what I found in the "About" section: "The home of amazing food and decadent desserts, such as the world-famous Frozen Hot Chocolate, Serendipity3 restaurant has been captivating millions of patrons since its inception. It’s an enchanting place where artists and actors of both the past and the present come for inspiration.It has been said that our sundaes make you feel like a child again. That’s been our aim since the beginning— and we’ve been transporting our customers back to their happy places ever since."

So, now I guess you're wondering why the word serendipity is so fascinating to me at this point in my life. You see, ever since Barney and Picasso entered our lives everything that brought them to us was in a way a serendipitous happening. Barney was found wandering the streets of Georgia almost a year before he arrived to our home. He was fostered in Georgia because he was a great neutral dog for the other rescues coming into the small shelter he was brought to. And the shelter he was coming up to on Long Island, Forgotten Friends of Long Island, was full and didn't have a kennel for him. He ended up waiting and waiting for months in Georgia.  Then when we lost Dagger in January, Forgotten Friends of Long Island reached out to us and asked if we would foster this little guy who had been waiting for months for a forever loving home. Beth, the President of FFLI, said she just didn't have the heart to leave him down there any longer...I must confess,I really hesitated to take him. I was still so grief stricken with Dagger's passing that I couldn't see myself opening my heart to another dog. I felt I needed more time. Beth told me that she really needed me to foster him..."just for a little while," she said. I gave in and agreed. His name at the time was "Patriot"...they called him "Pate" for short. When he arrived, after being on a journey in a transporter which took almost 24 hours,  he stepped out of the back of Beth's car and placed his head in my lap and cuddled with me. That was it! He was mine! Forever more! He reminded me of Sunrise Senior Living Facility's dog, Barney.  That's where Miss YaYa used to do her Therapy Dog work with Princess Penny. Barney loved Miss YaYa. Whenever we arrived for our visit at Sunrise, wherever he was in the place, he would come charging down the stairs and start kissing Miss YaYa all over the place. He was so smitten over her. So, we renamed Pate "Barney." 

L to R: Barney, Miss YaYa and Princess Penny

Before Barney became our forever dog, I applied to be a Canine Companions Therapy Dog Handler. I was happy that I passed the application process. Now I had to wait for a dog to be released from their Service Dog Program. Which, by the way, doesn't happen too often. So, I waited. In the meantime, our Barney was such a warm, cuddly little guy that my grief began to lessen and he filled the sadness I felt in my heart.  

Then one day I received an email from Canine Companions. It said "Picasso is being released." I chucked when I read it because I thought it  was a joke! I called the center right away and asked about this guy named "Picasso." It turned out that Picasso had been matriculated into the next phase of becoming a Service dog. However, he began to exhibit kennel stress. His Professional Trainer, Alex, told Denis and I that she felt he'd make a great CC Therapy Dog and wanted to know if we wanted to adopt him so that I would bond with him and train him to be a therapy dog for them. I saw pictures of him and immediately thought of Miss YaYa.  He looks just like her. We agreed to meet him and fell madly in love with him. We adopted him on the spot!! But...the best part is that Alex told us she was already working with him on his painting skills. "Painting Skills?," I asked. Yup! He was learning how to paint!! Since his adoption, Picasso has perfected his painting skills and has been certified as a Canine Companion Therapy Dog with me as his handler. In addition, he achieved his AKC CGC Certification. We're now ready to do our Therapy work!

I now have two dogs that resemble dogs that have graced my life in the past. If you wondered if I thought Dagger, Miss YaYa and Sunrise Barney had something to do with this fortunate, unexpected happening...You are right!!!

Now, if that isn't serendipitous...I don't know what is!!

Barney & CC Therapy Dog Picasso

If you celebrate Easter... Have a Happy Blessed Easter!
If you don't...Happy blessed Spring!
Whatever you do take kindness with you!
Happy Tales to you,
​xoxo Yvonne