Lessons From Lucy

by Dave Barry

Same for the physical and occupational therapists: They were wonderful to Sophie, always patient, but always challenging her to do more, and always cheering her progress. The day Sophie left the hospital, we hugged them the way you hug family, because they felt like family. I will always be grateful for their dedication.

  I am deeply grateful to Duke University. I used to hate Duke, because the Duke men’s basketball team was always beating basketball teams I rooted for. I stopped hating Duke when they accepted Sophie, but I still didn’t love Duke. Then came the morning when I had to call the dean of students, Sue Wasiolek, from the Critical Care Unit, and tell her, my voice choking, that Sophie would not be arriving with the rest of the Class of 2022. My fear, when I made that call, was that Sophie, who had already, overnight, lost so much, would somehow also lose Duke, the thing she had been most looking forward to. I will never forget what Dean Sue (as everyone calls her) said: “Tell Sophie not to worry. Duke has been here a long time. We’ll be here when she’s ready.” So I was able to give Sophie one bit of positive news when there wasn’t anything else good happening. And now I love Duke.

  Of course what I am most grateful for is seeing Sophie walk again. It’s such an ordinary act, walking; I never gave it any thought until Sophie couldn’t do it. Then it became the most precious thing in the world. Now I’m grateful every time I see Sophie enter a room. I suppose I’ll get used to it, but I don’t think I’ll ever take it for granted again.

  I know that what we’ve been through with Sophie, as hard as it has been, is not the worst thing that could have happened. Michelle and I talk about this a lot: There are parents who never see their children walk again. There are parents whose children die. There are many people, of all ages, dealing with horrific, incurable medical conditions. I don’t mean to compare our situation to theirs.

  But I do feel qualified, based on our experience, to offer this lecture:

  If you and your children are basically healthy—if, when you wake up in the morning, you can get out of bed—you should be grateful for that. If you have family and friends who love you, you should be grateful for that. Don’t take these things for granted: They are the most important things in your life.

  I’m not saying you should ignore your problems, or the problems of the wider world; I’m saying keep them in perspective. Don’t let your happiness depend on the news, or the stock market, or office politics, or traffic. Don’t let people who don’t know you tell you how you should feel. Don’t believe that the world is terrible, or wallow in outrage or victimhood, just because some politician or radio-talk-show host or college professor tells you to. Decide for yourself how your life is going, and when you make that calculation, start with the fundamentals: Are you walking around? Do you have people you love? Do they love you? Do you have enough to eat? A place to live?

  If you have those things, you have a lot to be grateful for. If you also have laughter in your life, and music, maybe a nice sunset once in a while, you’re blessed. Try to remember that the next time you’re feeling stressed or unhappy. Things could be a lot worse.

  Anyway, that’s my last lesson. I didn’t learn it directly from Lucy, though the more I think about it, the more I realize that I could have. Lucy, like most dogs, overflows with gratitude. She knows what’s most important in her life—the people she loves—and she never takes us for granted, which is why each time we return to our house, no matter how brief our absence has been, she greets us with quivering, unbounded joy. During those bleak nights when I drove home alone from the hospital, the happiness Lucy radiated when I opened the door always lifted my sagging spirits. She was a true comfort to me, following me from room to room in our too-empty house, keeping me company, keeping close to one of her people.

  That’s all dogs want, really: to be with us. It’s why they’re here, and why we love them. Somehow, over thousands of years, our two species developed this special, wonderful relationship, which once was based on utility, but now, for most people, is about love. It’s a beautiful thing. One more thing to be grateful for.

  * * *

  28 I’m not a doctor, so please understand that everything I say in this chapter about medical matters represents my very limited, English-major understanding of what happened.

  29 These were mostly friends who showed up at the hospital unannounced, wanting to see Sophie. Their intentions were good, and I love them all, but: It’s a bad idea to drop in unexpectedly on people undergoing intensive medical treatment. They’re already dealing with physical and emotional trauma; they don’t need the added burden of social interaction. So here’s an etiquette tip: If you want to visit a hospital patient, check first to make sure that person is up for visitors, and if he or she isn’t, don’t take it personally. Remember: It’s not about you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Dave Barry is the author of many bestsellers, including Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys, Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry Is NOT Making This Up. A wildly popular syndicated columnist, Barry won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He lives in Miami.

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  ALSO BY DAVE BARRY

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  Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus

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  Dave Barry’s Only Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need

  Dave Barry Talks Back

  Dave Barry Turns 40

  Dave Barry Slept Here

  Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits

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  Dave Barry’s Guide to Marriage and/or Sex

  Claw Your Way to the Top

  Dave Barry’s Bad Habits

  Stay Fit and Healthy Until You’re Dead

  Babies and Other Hazards of Sex

  The Taming of the Screw

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  Lunatics (with Alan Zweibel)

  The Bridge to Never Land (with Ridley Pearson)

  Peter and the Sword of Mercy (with Ridley Pearson)

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  Copyright © 2019 by Dave Barry

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  First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition April 2019

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  Interior design by Carly Loman

  Jacket design by Jacob Chan

  Jacket photographs by Jeffrey Salter

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Barry, Dave.

  Title: Lessons from Lucy : the simple joys of an old, happy dog / Dave Barry.

  Description: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition. | New York : Simon & Schuster, October 2018.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018003591 (print) | LCCN 2018010287 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501161179 (Ebook) | ISBN 9781501161155 (hardback)

  Subjects: LCSH: Conduct of life--Humor. | Aging--Humor. | Pets--Humor. | American wit and humor. | BISAC: HUMOR / Topic / Animals. | PETS / Dogs / General.

  Classification: LCC PN6231.C6142 (ebook) | LCC PN6231.C6142 B38 2018 (print) | DDC 818/.602--dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018003591

  ISBN 978-1-5011-6115-5

  ISBN 978-1-5011-6117-9 (ebook)