As I wrote in my post about Delilah’s Grand Adventure, I have been volunteering with a national big dog rescue for a little over a year now. They were my first non Chapel Hill friends, and I needed them so much with the move and becoming an empty nest parent (and living primarily solo last year). I help out with most anything, but my heart is around developing their partnership and outreach programming. Oh, and doing writing projects. My first project was editing this Activity Book where all proceeds come back to the rescue. A win/win where children can learn how to interact with large breed dogs and raise money for the rescue. I am currently working on another writing/editing project with them, but this week some changes were approved by the board which impacted me in a big way.

Last spring, I wrote up a job description for a Partnership and Outreach Manager position. The goal being that we partner with other rescues and shelters so that we can save more big pups across the United States. The position was approved but some board members were not on board, so after some initial push back, the concept was tabled. I kept volunteering and in the process made some new friends. Like my Motherswork friends, they are virtual friends, but they are also dog people which automatically makes them my people too. I have struggled to find my people in our new town. I started out really trying but kept connecting with people who are just not for me, then I kind of gave up.

Last week the board of the big dog rescue made some changes and decided to move forward with the Partnership and Outreach Manager position with me filling that role. I will be a part of the intake team, and when our rescue cannot take in a new pup, my role will kick in to find other organizations to help. I was feeling really lost and homesick after a visit to Chapel Hill last weekend. I needed something positive this week, and it happened. Someone called the rescue hotline with a Newfiepoo out west. The original owner was moving and said she was planning on taking this sweet ball of fluff to the shelter, so a good samaritan took him in. The only catch? The good samaritan lives a nomad life on the road, which she quickly realized was not good for a Doodle.

Our rescue has a difficult time placing Doodles since our adoption base wants Newfoundlands, so I was not surprised by the decision not to bring the Newfiepoo into our rescue. But, this was my first chance to try out the partnership and outreach concept. I spent most of last evening researching and reaching out to Doodle rescues on the west coast, and to my surprise, one said YES.

Helping that Newfiepoo was something I needed just as much as he needed, or maybe I even needed him more. Today my spirits are higher, I feel less sad, and feel like in my own way, I am finding my way with my new life. I even have a plan for how to be more social…. I am joining the gym down the road which is owned by 2 of my neighbors whom I affectionally call Zorro’s moms. Zorro is their Great Dane that they walk in the neighborhood twice a day. One of the moms was wearing a Biden trucker hat the first time I met her. Liberal, dog people… this has to be an “in” socially for me. Now, I will never leave Chapel Hill Training…. those will always be my people. But joining this gym gives me a reason to socialize in person in a town where I do not feel like I fit in. Fingers crossed it is a good outlet for me. And more exercise… a win/win.

 My children taught me to believe that things happen for a reason. That Newfiepoo was sent my way for a reason. We needed each other.

• lifeinmiddleage