My First Day at Work

I did it!  I finally got a Gig here in St. Louis.  And last week I had my first day on the job.  It was great!  Wait till I tell you all about it.

First, Mom and me (I mean Mom and I - I got excited, sorry), Mom and I drove to a place about 15 minutes away.  So it wasn't very far.  When we got there, she walked me around the parking lot.  (She wants me to feel comfortable with the place before we go in.  Also, I think she doesn't want me doing something I shouldn't do indoors.  But I wouldn't do that.  I'm a big boy now.)

So then we went to the door.  A nice young lady came out and welcomed us in.  As soon as we walked in, what do you think I saw?  A tiny puppy sitting in the lap of a lady not twenty feet in front of me.  If I had been at my house, I would have run up and said hello to the puppy right away.  But I knew I was supposed to be on my best behavior so I sat quietly next to Mom and waited for her to tell me what to do.

Soon I was being introduced to all the people in the place.  It was a place called an "Adult Day Care".  I think it's kinda like the place I sometimes go to in Arizona.  You remember the Doggie Day Care I go to called "Always Unleashed?"  All kinds of puppies from all over would come and we would do fun things together.  That's what this place was for people.  There were all kinds of people and they were doing fun things.

First I went to a table with 5 ladies.  I nuzzled the arm of the first gal, and she rubbed my head.  The next gal wasn't so sure about me, I could tell.  So I went to another one named Rose.  Rose had a metal contraption next to her.  Mom rolled it away so I could get nearer to Rose, but not before I had a chance to sniff it out.  You never know about these metal things.  Sometimes they just up and make noises when you don't expect it.  But I think I've seen these before in the medical facilities we went to once.  People would use them so they could walk.  I was pretty sure it wouldn't hurt me.  So I went to say hello to Rose.  She really liked me, I could tell. 

Then I decided to be cute and make these ladies laugh.  So I snuck under the table next to Rose and nuzzled a couple of knees and popped up on the other side of the table.  They thought that was really funny.  Even the lady who wasn't sure about me.  She let me come over then and give her a kiss.  That was really nice.

Then I was brought over to meet a young man who was trying to eat his oatmeal.  A girl in a uniform was helping him to eat.  I stuck my nose on the table and offered to help him eat his food, but Mom pulled me away.  His name was Nathan.  I don't think Nathan would have minded me eating his food, but Mom said it wasn't polite.  Mom told me Nathan had something called Down's Syndrome and that was why he couldn't eat all by himself.  I think it might be good to have Down's Syndrome, and here's why I think so.

A little after I had talked to Nathan about his oatmeal, the door opened and a really happy gal came in.  Her name was Jill.  She was giggling and hugging everyone and she gave me a hug too.  But then she did something really nice.  She sat right next to Nathan, and she put her arm around him and told everybody there that Nathan was her friend; that he went to classes with her in a school.  And Nathan was smiling like he hadn't before.  She made him very happy.  Mom told me later that Jill had Downs Syndrome just like Nathan.  That's why I would like to have Down's Syndrome too.  Then Jill would like me as much as she likes Nathan.  But I guess she liked me pretty much anyway.

Then I met Conchita.  I think that was her name.  Conchita rubbed my fur and held my head and she called me Linda, Linda.  That's not my name you know, but I didn't tell her that.  Then she called me Bonita and said a bunch of other words I didn't understand.  I asked Mom later why I couldn't understand her.  Mom said Conchita was Spanish and she was speaking Spanish.  She said Conchita had not really called me Linda like a name, but that in Spanish, she was saying I was beautiful.  That made me feel really good.

Pretty soon it was time to go.  So I made the rounds and kissed everyone goodbye.  Especially a man they called Doctor.  'Cuz he told everybody that I was a very smart puppy!  So I gave him a big kiss.

When I got in the car, I just collapsed in the back seat.  It was kinda stressful meeting all these people.  But I really liked doing it.  I'm going back there next week, but only after I get a good rest.

Till next week.  Yaawwnn!  Love, G.

PS.  Mom is bringing some fact cards of Interesting Dog Facts to share with the people at the Adult Day Care Center next week.  Can you think of anything that would be fun for us to do with the people there in some of our next visits?  Please give us some ideas.  If there isn't a space for your comment, then if you click on "Click here to leave a comment" at the bottom of this post, you can tell us your ideas.  Thanks, all.  G