GIGI, THE VETERINARIAN

When you're an older grandmother with young grandchildren, you closely watch them and imagine their lives after you're long gone.

My seven-year-old granddaughter, Gigi, is one of those children who has it all. Gigi is intelligent and beautiful, but most importantly, she’s kind.

Gigi accompanied me to a Rotary Club brunch last Saturday. She has participated with me twice in a Rotary service project that involved making sandwiches for those who are homeless. Gigi loves making the sandwiches and has become an expert sandwich maker. I never had to persuade her to participate in the project. Gigi happily agreed the first time she was asked.

The brunch on Saturday was held at Diane’s stunning house, sitting high on a hill with a gorgeous swimming pool on the lower level of the backyard. Gigi made friends with a large, sweet, pit-bull-mix dog roaming inside the house. Next to the pool was a huge, white, fluffy Great Pyrenees lying on his side. Gigi received permission from the owner to descend the steps to pet the dog, but she forgot to close the gate when she walked back up the stairs. The dog somehow ascended the stairs to follow her, walked under the table on the patio where several of us sat, and almost upended it the second time he tried. I realized something had to be wrong and noticed the dog wasn’t bearing any weight on his back leg. We quickly located Diane, who immediately called the veterinarian. The dog was obviously in pain, as evidenced by rapid panting. Fortunately, Diane had some pain meds for dogs in her medicine cabinet and gave one to him. Gigi was already sitting by the dog’s side, talking to him and stroking his fur. When Diane asked her to stay with the dog, Gigi happily continued loving him. It wasn’t long before the dog stopped panting and fell asleep in Gigi’s arms.

Gigi may receive many accolades, awards for excellence, and good grades in the future. However, what she displayed on a beautiful late fall day in December told me everything about “who” she is, and knowing this gives me great pleasure.

Gigi has always told us she wanted to be a veterinarian. Even though this will hurt me a little because it will probably mean she'll graduate from Texas A&M, I am comforted by imagining her as a compassionate, expert, and beloved veterinarian.