Navigating Challenges with Grace
Yesterday started early as usual. By 4 AM, Nicky and I were already outside, greeting the quiet city streets. The morning was tough; my head pain was relentless, a stark reminder of the ongoing battle with chronic pain. But there was a bright spot—after days of waiting, my medication finally came in. I can only hope this flare settles soon.
After another early outing and breakfast for Nicky, I spent a few hours organizing art ideas and making progress on my website. The site is nearly finished, which is exciting, but as always, I’d rather be painting!
The next step was picking up my rental car, a Hyundai Genesis this time. I genuinely love renting cars—it’s like a mini adventure every week. Since I don’t need a car full-time in the city, I rent one as needed, and the rental place always hooks me up with the nicer models. It’s a win-win: I get to drive something fun, skip the stress of city parking, and the staff loves seeing Nicky.
From there, I loaded up my originals and headed out with Nicky to the vet. She had her distemper shot and weighed in at a perfect 40 pounds—healthy, happy, and thriving! The vet was impressed, which of course made me proud.
After the vet, we visited a dear friend I hadn’t seen much since the breakup. It was wonderful catching up, even if it was brief. But then—disaster. I realized I had left my wallet at the rental place, a half-hour drive back. Frustrated but determined, I adjusted my plans and went to different stores than I originally intended. It wasn’t the best strategy—I ended up missing my usual coffee stop—but at least I stocked up on Nicky’s favorite bones and toys.
Next up was Staples, where I had planned to scan my originals for the website. I had spoken with someone ahead of time, but when I arrived, I was told they don’t even offer that service. The employee I spoke to was unhelpful, indifferent, and offered no solutions. After all the effort I had put into getting there, I left feeling defeated and frustrated.
But then, things took a turn for the better—way better. When I got home, I called my dad to vent about the Staples disaster, and he connected me with Ed, the printer from his business group. As luck would have it, Ed was already in the area. He swung by, picked up all my originals, and will be photographing them this weekend. What started as a headache turned into a perfect solution!
The day wrapped up on a high note with a trip to the dog park. The place was packed—at least 12 dogs running around, playing, and living their best lives. Watching Nicky having fun instantly lifted my mood. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of joy from the ones we love (and a well-timed rescue from a great connection) to remind us that bad days don’t last forever.
By the time we got home, we were both exhausted. It was a long, eventful day, full of highs and lows, but we made it through. As always, we keep moving forward—one step, one painting, one wagging tail at a time.
Mini Gratitude List for today:
Ed the printer for saving the day! We will in fact have a website soon with his help!
Nicky being 10 pounds of perfect fluffy health, and our friends at the park.
Our friends at the rental car company for helping us get preferred status (and hooking us up with fun things to drive).
With love,
Dana & Nicky.
