Me and my Shadow was a popular 1927 song co-written by Al Jolson and Billy Rose and one that’s been recorded by a number of people (i.e. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., even Liberace, among many others). It was performed by James Caan in the movie Funny Lady. Since returning from California, Me and My Shadow has been more like this.
Notice how Sam is focused on me during a recent walk rather than on the road ahead of him? More often than not when I’m working on the laptop, his head is squarely laying on my thigh or in my lap. If I’m on the sofa, he’s right there with his head on my thigh or staring at me or laying as close to my feet as he can possibly get. He follows me throughout the day rarely leaving my side. Instinctively, I start to pet him because he’s so sweet and soft but after 5-10 minutes of petting, I’ll stop and he just stays there or he’ll settle down laying right next to me or on top of my feet.
Because his leg was vastly improved (many thanks for all the well wishes), we went back to the hospital for the first time since September (you may recall we took a leave of absence from our pet therapy work while mom was in hospice and recovering from her recent health issues).
Sam seems somewhat unsure of himself at the hospital. He kept looking to me for guidance and encouragement. He has not been particularly focused on patients. He seemed to relish the time with the nurses (perhaps a light came on in his pea brain about them always having treats to offer?) but the patients and visitors it was more of a ‘meh’ kind of reaction. Take it or leave it, he could go either way…until we encountered a young man carrying his 13-month old daughter down the hallway. Sam seemed pretty eager to check them out so I led the way. His tail was wagging furiously and the fellow was very complimentary about him. He kept asking his daughter is she wanted to pet the puppy but she was kind of nonplussed (maybe Sam’s size intimidated her) but Sam was unwilling to drop it. He started pawing at the man’s knee-something he’s NEVER done before. At last the man bent down and had his little girl touch Sam. She still wasn’t all that impressed, but Sam was happy as a clam at high tide and the guy was pleased Sam was ever so gently and sweet while she pet him.
We had another encounter in a hallway with a deaf man who had an interpreter with him. Sam was only slightly interested in him and far more interested in the interpreter but in keeping with his ethos, he zeroed in on her (perhaps she needed a visit more than the fella did?). Hard to say but I do trust Sam’s ability to decide those things even when others may think he’s not that great since he doesn’t fawn over all patients at times. Sometimes its the visitors who need his kind of attention and energy more than the patients do.
It might take some time getting back into the swing of things doing what Sam does best but I’m watching him. Till then, I’ll be humming the song…Me and My Shaad-ddow.🎶
Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it’s twelve o’clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
For nobody’s there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feelin’ blue
And when it’s twelve o’clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
For nobody’s there
Songwriters:Â Dave Dreyer, Al Jolson, Billy Rose
Live, love, bark! <3
This is such a beautiful post with such a nice, implicit moral involving trust, love and mainly faithfulness… I believe that both the image you picked up as the song speak out loud in that sense… Great reading… and news (I am very glad to know that he is doing better)…
Thank you … Sending love for the new week ahead. Aquileana 😀
Thank you, Aquileana…returning some love back to you for the week. Hope it’s grand! ღ
That is a awesome photo.
Hopefully he will get back in the swing of things 🙂 I sing that song about Bree because she is STUCK to me and sometimes so close behind I don’t see her 🙂
Thank you, Marty. He did better the second day so I’m hopeful he’ll return to the goofball we all know and love. ღ
That is a perfect shadow! Y’all make a great team. ♥
Thank you ღ
What a great song. Sam will be just fine. Everyone has their own pace.
Thanks for the kind thoughts He is doing better so hopefully he’ll be back to his usual goofball self and more confident. ღ
Sometimes we are amazed that hoomans can’t figure us doggies out. Me and Stanley think they make it too complicated and we are really obvious – if you only knew!
Keep Calm & Bark on!
Murphy & Stanley
You boys are so smart, uprights do tend to make things more complicated than need be.
You know sometimes us anipals inner emotions come over us and we know who really needs help and a little paw time. Perhaps Sam is just easing back into things. Love to you both my friends. XOXO – Bacon
Your right, Bacon. Sam was much better on our second visit. 😉
Sam has been away from it for a while. He needs to adjust to working again but it shouldn’t take long.
You nailed it, Kismet. He was better on our second try! ღ
When Mom and I are at the VA, we also find that we help cheer up the visitors as much if not more than the patients, sometimes. Visiting someone unresponsive can be kind of sad, but when Mom and I come, there’s suddenly something for the visitors to do and to talk about.
Love and licks for Shadow-Sam,
Cupcake
And the nurses and staff are ever so grateful, too.
that’s interesting. I think care givers and family are sometimes forgotten when there is a sick person there. They need boosts to keep giving. Hmmm very interesting. LeeAnna
Absolutely. Sometimes, they need more ‘therapy’ than the patients. 😉
I’m sure Sam and his shadow are back on board soon… he probably has the same phase from winter to spring where we are next and beyond efurrything?
He is definitely getting the mojo back. Yay!
Sam is changing… and why not. At some point he will also retire. There are many times I want to interview a dog, to know what they are thinking/feeling. Cole has a new habit of staring at me. I sure wish I knew what he wanted. LeeAnna
Those Spoo stares can definitely be unnerving.