March 25, 2020 A very strange week indeed

March 25, 2020

A very strange week indeed

Just over a week ago Foxy, our last dog standing, could no longer stand. She was lying motionless in the yard near the trash cans where she had not before deemed to spend any time at all. It seemed odd when I found her there and went over to ask her what was up. 

She didn't answer, not unusual for a dog, but also made no attempt to even acknowledge my presence, which was odd. I tried to get her attention to no avail and when I finally pulled her to her feet she took a couple of awkward steps and fell drunkenly down. At this point I knew something was terribly wrong.

The diagnosis from the vet was our worst fear confirmed. She had a large untreatable tumor in her spleen and was bleeding internally. She was in no pain, but would die in her sleep in a day or two. As you can imagine, that evening when I carried her into the house and set her gently on her bed there was a great deal of crying and anguish. Linda had picked Foxy from a litter of puppies fifteen years ago. She has been Lindas constant companion and friend since that day. This was gong to be incredibly hard on Linda.

For three days Foxy mostly slept, ate little and I had to carry her to the yard to relieve herself. I dug a grave beside the wall in the far yard for her. It was a grim several days. And then on day four as she lay on the floor of my office I heard the distinct sound the metal tag on her collar makes when she shakes her head. Looking behind me she was on her feet, looking at me curiously before walking unsteadily towards the lanai and yard beyond. She continued to make an incredible recovery and is now back to her old self. I don't know what to make of it.

Two days ago in the late afternoon I was working in the garage on a new light I was installing over the washer when I heard Foxy let out a bark, then another. I looked over at her and saw that she was jumping to her feet and heading out of the garage towards the street at a pace I hadn't seen her move in months. At that moment I saw what had gotten her so exercised,  a large wild boar, at least 70 pounds, was trotting down the street in front of our house heading north.

Foxy was doing her best to chase the beast and I followed her to the street. Looking up Melelina Street the pig had gone into a full sprint. To my horror I saw that it was racing directly at a Japanese woman walking towards us with a four year old little girl and six year old boy holding her hands. The  animal was bearing down on them with what looked like every intent to run them down and maul them.

I ran as fast as I could towards them shouting at the top of my lungs: "Pick up your kids! PICK UP YOUR KIDS, GET THEM UP!" Hoping the woman knew what I was saying and was able to sense the danger they were in.

As the boar lowered its head and got ready to strike them, the screaming woman snatched the small girl off the ground with one arm and in a graceful move spun around 360 degrees to her left while swinging the little boy in the air by his hand through the turn. The pig grazed her leg as she spun and continued on disappearing into the bushes of the yard beyond them and was gone.

I got there a few seconds later asking her in one of my few remembered Japanese phrases "Daijobo?", are you okay? " Hai, hai, arigato!". The little boy must have known more English than his mother because looked up at me and asked "What was that?" A wild pig I told him and he then asked rather calmly, "Are they poisonous?" No I told him. "Okay" he said. 

About that time Foxy finally caught up, I said something to the mother and kids and they went on about their walk as if nothing unusual had happened. Foxy and I walked back to the garage. I gave Fox a treat, sat down beside her with a beer and scratched my head wondering what that was all about.

Tonight starts the great Hawaii Lockdown. I hope to have something else to share tomorrow, but you never know what in these very odd but interesting times.

Laters...Brian