Two Pictures Together Are Better Than Two Apart

It was the most beautiful day. So, I didn't mind that I'd been waiting outside on the front lawn for approximately forever.

Mama and I were hosting brunch for Cleopatra Prada, Uncle David, and Aunty Bev. I couldn't wait for them to arrive. Finally, Cleopatra Prada was coming to my house. My garden. My Zen Den. It was going to be pawsome.

But my thoughts about the day ahead were unexpectedly and abruptly interrupted.

Toffy! OMG! You said you were ready! OMD! Mama is freaking out inside that I’m not! Why would she think I wasn’t?

I was ready. Pawsitively, completely, one hundred percent ready. In fact, I’d been preparing since Tuesday, when Mama told me that Cleopatra Prada, Uncle David, and Aunty Bev were coming over for brunch today. So actually, I'd been ready for over five days. All I had to do today was the finishing touches. And those were done. That’s why I was sitting outside on the lawn. Calmly, quietly waiting for our guests of honor. Until this happened. What was Mama thinking? Where was she getting her data? My Zen Den was tidy. I was clean and extra floofy from my bath. My hair was neatly brushed. My blue polka dot bow tie was on as straight as can be. Everything I was responsible for was in place, exactly the way I wanted it to be, for Cleopatra Prada’s first-ever visit to our house. What could Mama possibly think was not ready? I ran inside as quickly as I could. But not too quickly. I didn't want my floofy hair or blue polka dot bow tie to get disarranged. But quickly enough to deal with Mama and get back outside before everyone arrived. I wanted to be out on the lawn, waiting - so Cleopatra Prada will know how excited I am about her first visit to my house. That’s why I’d been out there for approximately forever. And now this!

One look at Mama and I knew we had issues to straighten out.Mama! What’s the matter? Why are you freaking out?Everything’s ready! Look! I said, pawing at what I’d thoughtfully displayed in the lounge for Cleopatra Prada to see the minute she walked in – my bright crinkly sunflower, my red and yellow monkey, Bluey, and my purple bunny.   My oversized tennis ball — the one that says Come and Get Me, which, given the occasion, felt very appropriate — as well as the pink ball and the red spiky squeaky ball. One by one. Every single one. Laid out. Arranged with a plan, and with love, and great care. After all, isn't this what a good host does? And Mama didn't get this? It was shocking to me, given her exceptionally high Ei and advanced people skills.

Mama looked at the floor again. And she looked at me. She opened her mouth and took a deep breath — and said, "Toffy. What. Is. This. Mess!"

All of a sudden, I wasn’t just shocked. My feelings were deeply hurt.   How could she think this was one big mess?

Now it was my turn to take a deep breath and do my best to stay calm and patient. I needed my super smart brain to present and focus - so I could communicate lovingly and effectively – because this was very pawsonal and a time for compassion, not conflict.

Mama, I don’t think you understand! This is my moment. I'm introducing myself. What? Okay, she definitely didn’t understand. That was immediately clear! Time for some more deep breathing! Mama, have you forgotten that Cleopatra Prada is my BFF? And this is the first time she’s coming over to our house. This is the first time she’s going to see where I live, and see all the things that I love that are a reflection of me and what matters to me. And this is impawtant becasue I want her to learn more about me today. And find even more reasons to love me, more reasons than she has. But most of all I want her to feel the way I felt when I went to her house for the very first time. And every time after that. You know, that feeling of belonging somewhere before you've even been there long enough to deserve it. I want today to be pawfect! I’d worked hard all morning to make sure it was. So my brain was still wondering why Mama was in meltdown mode? What was the disconnection? We both wanted the exact same thing. A pawfect day for Cleo and for Uncle David and Aunty Bev. For them to feel the same way we had felt when we went to their house for the very first time and every other time after that. This was not in question. We both trusted that we’d each do our part to make everything pawfect and be ready on time. Check. And Check. This is not in question. But wait a minuute. Is it? OMD! It is in question! By Mama! And in that exact moment, my super smart brain figured out the reason for our big disconnection and Mama's rare meltdown. Mama expected my part to be done and on time.   I’d told her it was. But what she was currently looking at was neither of these, not by a long shot. In fact, not by any shot in her mind. What she saw did not match the picture she had in her mind.

Her picture had the house dusted and vacuumed. Food in the oven. And flowers in the lounge. Hers had everything, including my toys in their routinely assigned and pawfect spot. And mine, well you know what mine was. And mine was the reality she was currently facing. Now I understand why she was freaking out! Our guests were about to arrive, and she probably felt that all her hard work to make everything pawfect had been undone. And that the day was ruined. I would have had a meltdown too, if that’s the reality I was facing.

And this is the disconnect we needed to fix. Extra quick! Our intention was the same, but our style – not so much. I looked at Mama. And I looked at the floor. And I looked back at Mama. And I don't know if I've ever felt so bad. But luckily for us my super smart brain didn’t just figure out the problem. It figured out the solution - even though it made my tail stop wagging and my heart rather heavy, I loved my Mama more than anything, and I slowly started putting my toys that back in their designated location.

And then, all of a sudden, Mama’s super smart brain woke up, and also figured the disconnetion out. She gave me the biggest kiss ever. And I felt her meltdown disappear. What a relief! Floof, don’t put all your toys away. Which are the ones you most want to show Cleopatra Prada you have? And pick out a few that you think she’ll have the best fun playing with. I'll display them beautifully for you so you can go and wait outside for them to arrive. I gave Mama a huge lick and a kiss. She truly is the very best. As I ran outside again, I knew for certain that because of what just happened, Cleopatra Prada would feel even more love in our home today and would the sides of me she didn’t yet know, more easily. And I was also certain neither Uncle David nor Aunty Bev would break a leg walking through our house.

And with our big disconnect, connected — I dashed outside — arriving on the lawn just in time to see our VIP guests pulling up into the driveway.

We had the most special day. Everyone had fun. Cleopatra Prada told me I could call her Cleo – and that’s a really big deal

And I even got a beautiful photo with Mama and Cleo. Thank you, Aunty Bev.

And I learned something really impawtant today. On the one paw, everyone's picture of pawfect is undoubtedly very different. And if you're not careful, that can create a lot of trouble and tension. But on the other paw — if you care enough to stop, and ask and understand the story behind someone else’s picture, you don't just find a way to make different pictures work together, you create moments and memories that are even more pawfect and better than you could have ever imagined. Because if the heart in each person’s picture is focused on love, then the pictures together will always be better together than if they're apart.

Today, paws down, I saw the most beautiful example of this.

Not only are Mama's and my pictures better when they're together, but there are no two pictures in the whole entire world that are more pawfect together than ours.

Toffy xoxo

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