Though life is filled with the clunky vocabulary of medicine and nursing these days ( G tube, syringes, flushing, ambulate et al) occasionally I hear a word or phrase that turns me on. For instance this morning R’s visiting nurse said to me, “He could get intoxicated by water if you use too much.” Intoxicated by water! I envisioned him dancing on the beach or around the lake, wild with water. But no, it had to do with shortness of breath and dizziness.

Meanwhile Nelson is deeply into his role of therapy dog. After his star turn last Sunday with the paramedics (thinking it was some kind of early morning party and trying to kiss them all), he now likes to pose on R.’s bed. Pressed against R., he gazes at us with a kind of I’m-here-for-him intentness.