Our Lockdown Buddy Spirou
Still under lockdown in a foreign country, there is much for which we can be thankful, including our health, our family, stable employment and education. This year, we also get to be thankful for Spirou, a nine-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who spent over seven months of the year with us as a COVID refugee. Spirou's parents were evacuated in the spring, but airlines would not allow pets on board and with the constant summer heat, they would not take the risk. So we had an elderly lapdog for seven months who quickly became part of the family. He was also a boon to us during lockdowns, reducing our overall stress while giving us moments of levity and mirth. He required two daily walks, which forced us to get up and out of the house. The last point is crucial: we always knew what time it was, even if we did not always know what day it was. We also made fast friends with Israelis and Palestinians alike, including the local dog owner community. His owners are francophone, ...