February 1, 2020
Part of the reason for this blog (well, more specifically, the trips I’m taking that drive this blog) is the fact that I am clinically diagnosed Bipolar II. I unfortunately had a major depressive episode that even my medications didn’t help.
During those depressive episodes, I often forget (or ignore) the fact that I actually do have a wonderful support system in place. Thankfully, many parts of that system came together and prevented me from making a life ending decision.
Part of those rescue efforts included finding a traveling buddy. I would like to introduce to the world Mr. Ashley J.
Ash is a boxer mix that I rescued from the Albuquerque Animal Welfare shelter. He’s very friendly, playful and he is now my world. I brought him home on Friday evening and will make a perfect travel companion.
One of the major pieces of my support system is my friend Alan. He has seriously been my rock from almost day one of the breakup. He always encourages me to call if I feel the need. I’m often reluctant to do so, but when I do, I always kick myself for not calling sooner.
On Wednesday, Alan made a suggestion that I initially thought was a joke. He asked if I wanted to get matching tattoos. Thinking he was joking, I jokingly suggested unicorns with sharks for arms.
When he told me he wasn’t joking, and that he had a specific plan in mind, I agreed.
On Thursday, I called Star Tattoo in Corrales and made our appointment, then after work, I went to the shelter for my first introduction to Ash (whose name at the time was Cleveland… cue eye roll…). I fell in love with him on first sight and swore to return the following day to adopt him.
Which I did. I left work early to be able to get to the shelter in time for one more interaction with him before making it official.
I decided on the name Ashley J, after my favorite horror movie character, Ashley J Williams of the Evil Dead franchise. It was met with a hearty round of approval from all I told.
Saturday, Alan showed up at around noon to meet Ash before leaving to go get our tattoos. We showed up just before our appointed time of 1:00 and walked out with new semicolon tattoos, each on the insides of our lefts wrists. As it turns out, it was Alan’s very first tattoo. He got it in tribute of me, which was such an amazing honor. Honestly, it makes my heart sing.
We followed the tattoos with a couple of beers at Boxing Bear Brewery in the same parking lot as the tattoo shop before heading home.
Later, I took Ash to the dog park. He was in heaven. Plenty of other dogs for him to interact with, and he played well with every one of them. While we were there, I tested some preliminary click training I had done with him in my apartment, and even with all of the distraction he had, he still responded very, very well to the clicker. Toward the end of our stay, however, he got very… involved… with a new arrival and completely ignored the clicker. I decided it was time for us to go so we came home and he fell right to sleep. Apparently, the time at the dog park wore me out too, because I was yawning pretty heavily by 8:00. I called it an early night and was in bed by 9:00.
At this point, I am so grateful for the amazing support system I have, and am slightly dismayed to find that some that I thought should be the shining pillars of my support system simply aren’t a part of it. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I now know who I can count on, and who I can’t.
Next weekend I have a commitment that will prevent me from an outing but rest assured, I will be resuming my journeys the following weekend. Fitting, as it will be Valentine’s Day, and I will be expressing my undying love for myself.
In the meantime, enjoy yourselves!
-Phil