The dog in her lap

[Barrett Dorko]

Carol was doing better. A middle-aged woman who hurts just about everywhere, she sounded and acted as if she were the perfect candidate for the sort of care I provide. Her immediate positive response to my presence and handling was initially followed by hours of profound and unexpected relief.

But today at her fourth visit she struggled from the waiting room and I took this in silently. Gesturing for her to sit, I landed on her shoulders as if my hands were birds and she a tree limb in the breeze. There was plenty for me to feel and when asked about her sensation of change it was all I could have hoped for.

“I was doing okay until I drove to New York with my sister. Her big dog won’t sit in the back and I had to hold her in my lap the whole way.”

There’s a lot going on here that I can’t begin to control; relationships, tendencies to “just go along” and plans for the future that depend upon all of that. Oh yes, and the size of the dog.

The studies about the effectiveness of certain methods couldn’t possibly take all that into account, but a discussion about the thinking behind the method isn’t affected by such things – and that’s what we try to do here on Soma Simple.

[Barrett Dorko]

German Shepherd - in case anyone was wondering.

The question is: Would a "pocket dog" work out better? To me, the answer is obvious.

But the real question is: Would Carol's sister be likely to ever own such a dog?

There's a U.S. presidential candidate joke in here somewhere but this forum is NOT the place for such things.

[Barrett Dorko]

Carol was in today and is now remaining distinctly improved.

Guess what? No dog.