Not that there was anything wrong with Kimi. As always she is in excellant health because she (and her mommy) takes good care of herself. Good food, vitamins, sleep and exercise, and of course plenty of fresh water every day. These are the things we all need to keep us healthy. But even with all of that there are certain things we need the doctors help with. Like vaccinations, and other preventative care.

So off we all went to the doctors office. Kimi was in grand spirits and walked in without fear. The girls who work there all made over Kimi as though she were the Grand Duchess herself...which of course in Kimi's world she is. And while they all cooed and aahed over her, her tail was wagging like crazy and she greeted all who wanted it, with a kiss. Once the paper work was all filled out it was time to sit and wait our turn. Kimi took this time to watch all that was going on around her and try to make new friends, even if they would never see each other again. A good friendship doesn't have to be long lasting if it leaves a good impression in your heart.

Kimi laid on my lap and watched as others came and went, with great interest. There was the mommy who came in with two little boys and a small scraggly dog. The smallest of the boys was determined to be the one to hold on to their doggy even though she was equally determined to drag him all over the waiting room. Her name was Sierra and Kimi thought she looked like a lot of fun. As the small boy skied along on the slippery floor behind Sierra, Kimi's eyes followed them everywhere. Each time they sailed past us Kimi greeted them with a sharp "YIP!" and tried to follow them. As she laid across my lap her whole body would quiver with excitement when they went by. Her smile wide, Kimi laughed her breathy little laugh when the boy slid to far once and landed on his behind with a smart "THWAP!" His mommy finally got a hold of him and Sierra and took them to a far corner to wait.

About then more people arrived and Kimi got to see close up, two kittens in a crate. Now THAT looked interesting to her! Kimi had never before seen cats caged up. I think she liked the idea though as her tail wagged furiously with her behind in the air as she poked her nose in for a closer look. The kitties didn't like her poking her nose into their business and they gave a little poke back at her thru the crate door. Kimi shouted "YIP!" and jumped backwards trying to avoid their sharp little claws. When they arched their backs and made a strange hissing noise she looked up at me with her laughing grin and yipped at me again. I took this to mean.."Mommy....they sprung a leak!" Granted they did sound a bit like a leaky air mattress.

About the time their mommy rescued them from a certain curious puppy, the front doors opened again. By now Kimi knew this meant someone new was coming in so she turned to face the door and wait. In walked a bouncing mass of fur and tongue and Kimi wiggled her way up to this one. Gypsy was much bigger than Kimi, but not as big as her friends, Brigs and Katy so she wasn't afraid. Kimi walked right up to her, raised up on her back feet and reached out a paw as if to say "Hi...I'm Kimi...nice to meet you". Gee, who taught her these manners!

Before they could get to know each other Kimi's turn was called and the fun had to stop for now. One of the girls who work there wanted to know how much Kimi weighed so she got to go on their scales for the first time. Boy did she look small on the scales. Kimi stood there like a pro who has been there many times, but when she looked up to see the flashing numbers she had to look a loonngg way up there! Everything looks so big when you are only nine inches tall! Finally the number stopped flashing and they read 6.9 pounds. WOW! Kimi has grown yet a bit more. Only on the inside though because after being measured they said she is still the same height.

When we went into our room to wait for the doctor to come in, Kimi got kind of quiet. I sat her on the cold table and she leaned up against me. I tickled her under her chin and talked to her to let her know everything was alright. Finally a lady walked in and came over to Kimi. You all know how Kimi is....she gives everyone a chance to be her friend, and has always found people to be nice. This lady turned out to be nice too and she leaned down to talk to Kimi for a few mintues. Kimi must have decided she was okay too for she slurped a kiss right across her chin. She sniffed the front of her shirt and quickly discovered the goodie the doctor had hidden in her pocket.

With soft hands and a softer voice, this doctor examined Kimi without her really knowing what was going on. Kimi stood there wagging her tail, and like all puppies, thinking only of their tummies and the delicious goodies they could put in them, Kimi waited for her to hand the treat over. As the doctor and I talked about what she was in there for that day, Kimi tried hard to be patient. Finally her taste buds won over all else and she let out a sharp commanding "YIP!" while looking back and forth from me to the doctor. She reached up her right paw and tried to get to the doctors pocket to help herself to a little 'brunch'. With her ears perked and her head angled just right for the best view into that pocket, Kimi watched the treat intently, just to make sure it didn't fall out or get lost before she got to sample it.

Then came the bad part, which Kimi certainly was not expecting! The Rabies shot. A SHOT! Kimi's head jerked up in surprise and she did her best to try to leap off the table, all thoughts of a treat forgotten. The doctor took them from her pocket and offered them to Kimi at this point to distract her from what was coming. I grabbed her firmly while the doctor did her 'dirty work'. Needless to say, the distraction of goodies did NOT work and mommy was now in the dog house with Kimi! While the doctor stepped out to get the heartworm pills and the Advantage drops for Kimi, I gently rubbed where she got her vaccination and talked to Kimi, trying to tell her this was something she had to have, but by the way she was pointedly ignoring me and the goodies I could tell Kimi was NOT buying into this! We finished up with the doctor and then left the room. When we got back out to the front Kimi had a surprise.

We walked right into two carbon copies of Kimi, only made bigger! Kimi looked at them sharply...one to the other like she couldn't believe what she saw and then she looked up at me. Slowly the grin started to form and I could feel her tail begin a slow wag. Their daddy said they were friendly so I put Kimi down for a closer look, staying close to her just incase. The bigger Kimi- look-a-likes nosed in for a sniff and Kimi stood there looking up into their eyes and smiling. They each got a sniff and the Kimi began her dance. Her behind began to wiggle, her ears laid back, her smile grew wider and her tongue circled her own teeth a few times. Strange but it looked somewhat like a canine version of a Latin Tango as she wiggled around these two. Her two new friends joined in the dance and before long the three were Tangoing across the floor. Each sporting a wide grin as their bodies twisted and turned like champion ballroom dancers. But as with anything, all good things must come to an end and much to soon for their taste, the daddy called for Kimi's two new friends to go home.

We finished up at the counter and left to go home ourselves. I had made the mistake of believing all was well between Kimi and I on our drive back home. Maybe now I will learn not to jump to conclusions. Once back home and in the house I tried to call Kimi to me. Nothing doing! My sweet little girl was still mad and pouting over mommy selling her out like she did! I begged, I pleaded, I even tried sweet talking her....but nothing worked. Mommy was definitely in the dog house now!! I tried to get her to play with me with her favorite monkey toy. I figured out quickly she must be pretty upset at me when she ignored her monkey!! The two are usually pretty inseperable. I tried to tempt her near me with a piece of cheese, which is normally her favorite 'people' food. Nothing doing! Kimi made it clear I was not going to be able to buy into her favors today! So I did the only thing I could do. I left her alone to her own devises so she could work through her feelings about my 'traitorship'.

Sure enough, just like the human-kids......when it came time for dinner and some cuddling that SHE needed Kimi forgot all about being mad at mommy and she came looking for me. When I picked her up into my arms and she snuggled down close to me and I felt her warm wet little tongue slip across my chin I knew all was forgiven and I was in her good favors again.

Gee it was sure nice to be out of the 'dog house' and back inside with Kimi where I belonged! Maybe Kimi finally understood that even though the vaccination was not pleasant it was something that she needed to maintain good health.

It just goes to show that the things that are good for us are not always the nice things in life. But still they are necessary.

walk in beauty
Kristi & Kimi