About a year ago Mary got each of the team a small penguin to put on their scrubs. On the card that it came on it told the story of the fairy penguin of Australia that stands less than a foot tall, is clumsy on land and has the fox as its natural enemy.

So to survive, each day in the water they gather where the surf meets the shore, waiting until the last penguin joins them.

Then shoulder to shoulder they march up the beach to their burrows. They support each other. They rely on each other. And everyone, except the fox, wins.

At the bottom of the card it says:

"We are a stronger team because of you"

  

Each morning we meet for rounds and go over the day's plan and communications I have gotten from emails that require immediate action. I end the rounds session by saying "Go Penguins"  Donna in particular will not leave the rounds until I say the words.

  

Now I haven't told you guys this story because it seems a little bit like you might be the fox, which seems a bit ungrateful.  Plus, I was thinking the "clumsy on land part" might be taken the wrong way by my very graceful team.

    

The reason teamwork strikes such a chord for me right now is that I have had to take off some extra time to focus on the Polly, and I appreciate everyone at Kindred Spirits taking up the slack.

But this week Polly has made a dramatic turn for the better. She is eating, walking...the physical therapist has almost dismissed her, and yesterday for the first time we left her on her own. 

Thank you all for floating around in the surf for so long.

  

I'm back.  (Cue AC/DC)

  

On a personal note, I have such deep gratitude for all of the people who helped. I am also reminded right now how much personal drama keeps us from looking at the bigger picture.  That is not a criticism, but I have to share something with you that I got today.

  

First of all, let me say that all of this self focus has made me negligent in acknowledging the suffering that has happened in Japan over this past week. I received several video clips about it, one of which I will include about the loyalty of dogs.  Warning. this video is emotional. I left watching it angry that no one was helping the dog, but later several clients told me that both of these dogs were rescued and were recovering, although the sicker of the two was recovering much more slowly.

  

At the end of February I addressed a class of Technical Writing and Presentation Skills evening class at the University of Maine at the invitation of one of my favorite clients who teaches the class.  She told me I could talk about anything I wanted.

  

I chose Presentation Do's and Don'ts, but couldn't resist ending the presentation with a portion that I called in my head "Living your Dream". I figured I was speaking to young people in their early twenties and that if I could tell them what I wish someone had told me when I was that age, they would totally leave inspired.

OK, a few things. First of all, I know that people DID tell me some of these things and I wasn't paying attention. 

Secondly, for those of you who are teachers and are reading this, a moment of appreciation from Dr. Hanks on how hard your job is. I have done talking to groups before, but largely they were people who wanted me to speak, or had invited me. This was an evening class and I was a guest speaker. The teacher thought I was pretty cool, but the students thought (I'm pretty sure)...OK, great...a vet... what's he here for again? For those of you who teach every day, I know you are saying...Welcome to our world Mr. Snuggly Puppy Man!

  

So anyway, I gave it my best and left with mixed feelings. I saw a few lightbulbs go off, but in general I was afraid I was losing them.  I left thinking out of the 20 or 25 students maybe I had touched a couple.

I drove home and thought maybe it was too much with the living your dreams part.

  

The teacher (thank you Rebecca) sent me the

 comments from the students today.  They actually did pay attention and more than one was actually touched.

  

 I have to give you one thing that gave me goose bumps.

  

"One of the things that I remember most about his presentation was that he said something along the lines of this; bad things are going to happen down the road, and there isn't a thing we can do to stop it. You're going to get a failing grade, or a breakup or something to shake you. What you have to do is move forward. You can't dwell on the bad grade or the professor you don't like because you will be stuck in the past. You should surround yourself with people who will cheer you on and make your dream happen. It all boils down to how much you want it. If you have enough determination you will get there. Those words of wisdom from Dr. Hanks, for me, made this entire presentation awesome. "

  

I'm not telling you this because I think I'm all that and a bag of chips. I'm telling you this because I gave that presentation on February 23rd.  I came home to find Polly had a stroke 2 days later.

  

"...bad things are going to happen down the road, and there isn't a thing we can do to stop it..."

  

I don't remember imparting those words of wisdom, but I'm glad that student did.  

  

  

  

If any of you are involved with aid in the efforts in Japan, please let me know, I've had a lot of questions of how we can help, especially the animals.

  

Also this Sunday is the low cost spay and neuter at the Bangor Humane Society.  4 vets, 25 people helping and 123 cats to spay and neuter.  We are all set on assistance for this day, but if you would like to get involved with the volunteer program for this and other things, email stacey@bangorhumane.org

  

  

I guess it depends on how much you want it...and how much you surround yourself with people who will cheer you on.

  

I'm talking to you.

  

thank you all. Have an awesome week