Hormonal Hannah has been fretting about today for a couple of weeks as Baggy had to attend a funeral. She's not good at funerals at the best of times and since she's come off her anti-depressants, she can cry at a leaf getting run over by her driving, let alone at something truly sad. But her biggest concern was the fact that Furry Mama was going to have to leave the pooch and he just can't be left. She did consider taking him to the funeral; all God's creatures are after all welcome in church, but Freda Fretter decided that it was inappropriate. Had she got there early, no one would even have noticed him, he's such a well behaved little chap, but she had visions of him having a meltdown when he saw the coffin. Baggy's pretty sure that the lovely lady whose funeral it was wouldn't have minded him being there at all, but still.....
In the end Clever Bird decided to take Pepper and leave him in Billy Bob Jalopy campervan. He's returned to his previous state of feeling okay being left in it. He no longer even barks when Furry Mama walks away. So in spite of the fact that the church is only a two-minute walk from Baggy's house, she drove there. It nearly went horribly wrong, Freda Fretter didn't want to arrive too early, so she faffed, only to get to the point where she should be leaving and couldn't find Billy Bob's keys - anywhere! Hot flush and total panic ensued. She wasn't late, but she was the last person there. Pepper didn't bark.
Funerals are never easy. Even though this lady was a friend of Baggy's late father and step-mother, rather than someone who was very close to Baggy, Baggy had known her for over twenty years, and recently, since moving to the village, saw her regularly whilst walking Pepper. But naturally the service recalls memories of other people who are no longer around. Freda Fretter still thought it inappropriate to let Hannah blub (almost certainly a hangover from nearly forty years ago, when told by her step-mother, at Baggy's paternal grandma's funeral, 'That she should stop trying to grab all the attention by shedding "crocodile tears"'. Fortunately, Baggy tucked herself into a side pew, with a view of the organ pipes, a broken chair and dumped tables; but it also had a view out to the churchyard which Hannah focussed on, while singing the hymns with as much gusto as she could, when inevitably they were in much too high a key for her alto voice.
As she was singing one of her favourites, 'All things bright and beautiful,' she realised that Pepper probably would have been welcome. She became more certain of this fact when Clever Bird noticed that donations (instead of flowers) were to The Dog's Trust. After the service, Baggy returned to Billy Bob to find a relaxed pooch, looking extremely cute in his jumper, sitting in the driver's seat waiting for her. He wasn't barking, panting, licking his lips, or showing any other signs of stress, even though Baggy had been gone for an hour. Furry Mama was delighted. Clever Bird decided that both he and Hannah needed a reward. In spite of the grey skies and constant drizzle, after a quick lunch and a change, they headed to Southwold.
It's a little daunting how quickly the beach changes! The sand was covering the promenade a couple of weeks ago. Yet as always, the pooch had a wonderful time, and Hannah felt revived after some sea air. And when they got home, Creative Clara had yet another order from her etsy shop! Baggy will live life to the full...…
Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.
Baggy's daily state!
Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Yellow.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 6.
Tears: Hidden ones.
Baggy: 213 - oops.
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