How to Make Sure Your Heart is Beating...

I started my usual bedtime routine tonight and got to the part of the ritual where I make sure all the indoor residents are accounted for. W was already asleep, Geordie was on his nite-nite and Izzy was following me. No Tripod. Occasionally, we go through this and will find Poddy curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly. One other occasion, after tearing the entire house apart, I started the umpteenth wave of throwing everything out of everything and found him fast asleep in the back of my closet behind some shoe boxes. So tonight, that's the first thing I did. Then I got panicky. We had been going in and out of the house bringing in trim. Could he have slipped out and was hidden somewhere? I got the spot light, combed everything. I got on the ATV and rode all over the farm looking for him. Saw nothing but deer grazing. I stirred up all the dogs, had the cows mooing, goats up and roaming around. Me calling "TRIIIIPOD!!!" echoed through the woods. I felt sick to my stomach. Tripod only has 3 legs. He has no claws and is totally defenseless. This was bad. I fought back tears as I started to feel an even sicker feeling. I came back, went through the house again. No sign of him in any box, closet, or hiding place. I shook the food bag. I clanged dishes. Nothing. I went back outside and checked all the ditch drains, the fish house, the "Bat Cave" where we store farm equipment. Maybe he was hiding there till morning. Not a sound. I came home ready to wake up Wayne and tell him what was going on. I really didn't want to wake him, as we have a long day tomorrow. I sat down at the end of my chaise lounge and just hung my head. I was at a loss. Izzy was at my feet staring up. He knew something was terribly wrong with me. Looking down and wondering what to do next, I thought I felt something move against my leg. I saw a lump under the blanket. NO WAY! SURELY HE WOULDN'T BE ASLEEP UNDERNEATH A HEAVY BLANKET! I jerked it back and Tripod looked at me as if to say WHO TURNED ON THE LIGHTS IN MY EYES?!? I flopped onto the floor and hugged him up tightly. Izzy was slinking and purring all around him. Once again, Tripod was "found" in the most unlikely of places. I was so thankful. I'm now trying to get rid of the sick feeling, the adrenaline rush and the fear. I am grateful that my nest is together and we can all sleep well tonight. W, Geordie and most of all PODDY have no idea what Izzy and I went through tonight. Now the outside crew can go back to sleep, the cows can stop mooing, we are all safe and all is well. This is for sure-Life is NEVER, EVER boring around here! For that, I am thankful. Memories are made, even in the seemingly scariest of times. A little scare is okay when things work out just fine.
It keeps our hearts in check, says I.
Till next time,
Annie

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