Pat Bean's blog

Scamp wasn’t happy with the grooming process, but he did enjoy the treats I bribed him with to be good. — Photo by Pat Bean 

Headstrong is just a word that others call you when you don’t do what they want. – Jennifer Donnelly   

My canine companion Scamp does not have a mean bone in his body. But he is a headstrong rascal who needs a groomer just as headstrong. I had one. She handled Scamp beautifully. Then along came the coronavirus. My groomer was an older woman who wisely is staying at home.

After waiting almost a month to get a grooming appointment for Scamp this past week, he was then sent home without being groomed.

“He’s just too hard to handle,” the young woman groomer said. I had noticed on checking him in that she appeared to be way overbooked and a bit bitchy. I think he was an easy choice to make her day, as an inexperienced groomer, go better

OK, I’m not happy about Scamp flunking grooming class, and she rejected my dog, so I’m probably the one who is being bitchy.

Maggie was easier to groom than Scamp. I used to plug my clippers into the outside outlet and sit on the step of my RV to groom her. I groomed Scamp on my living room floor yesterday. Did I mention that my vacumn cleaner is now plugged up? — Photo by Pat Bean

I have groomed a couple of my dogs in the past, primarily Maggie, the spoiled cocker spaniel who traveled around the country in a small RV with me for eight years. And since I’m pretty headstrong myself, I tackled Scamp with the grooming clippers yesterday.

It was not fun, and it is not finished. The first error I made was forgetting to put the length guard on my clippers and taking a good swipe down Scamp’s back. That committed me to doing the same for his entire body.

I actually like him with the shorter haircut because his bottom coat is silver while his topcoat is black. But the shorter look means every mistake shows. And, trust me, there are many mistakes.

Today, I need to tackle the toenails. So far, I’ve managed to trim three. My goal is to spend 15 minutes a day on the grooming process until it is finished. I suspect it might become an unending daily task,

No wonder I had a coronavirus nightmare last night.

Bean Pat: To Coursea, which offers free online college classes. One of the more popular classes during COVID Time is the one on psychological first aid for people with depression, anxiety, or emotional distress.

You can read more about Maggie and our adventures in Travels with Maggie, available on Amazon.

Today’s Silver Lining: While grooming Scamp is a pain in the behind for this old broad, I’m saving a good bit of money by doing it myself.

Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder, Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder, Story Circle Network board member, author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon, and is always searching for life’s silver lining.