January 8, 2008 – Izzy continues to grow and surprise us in his hospice work. We had a challenging couple of hours this afternoon, visiting a Washington County nursing home with Keith Mann, the volunteer hospice coordinator. One hospice patient was in a circle of fifteen people, and Izzy greeted each one, then climbed into a chair next to the hospice patient and put his head on her shoulder. We saw another patient who stared vacantly at the ceiling until Izzy put his head under her hand and she began stroking him. It turned out she used to sponsor dog shows. Izzy worked tirelessly, patient after patient, many in the nursing home but not in hospice, and he continues to grow in his ability to find ways to connect, in his patience, and in the extraordinary response he evokes.
  He spread smiles all over this nursing home on this bleak winter day, and some of the people seemed beyond reach, in pain and distracted. Izzy got through to all of them.
  This was no an easy afternoon for me, or for him, although it does offer perspective in times when we can forget what misfortune really is. I am so fortunate to have encountered this dog, and so appreciative of the amazing work he does.
  When we got home, Izzy collapsed on the sofa, and I sat on the floor next to him for a long time and stroked his head, scratched his belly. He was as drained as I have seen him. I think he pours so much energy into this work that it does tire him. He was very excited to be back working in hospice, and so am I. It is something I am meant to do, something I am drawn to do, something that lifts me up every time I do it and reminds me that life ought to be meaningful and that there is as a lot more joy in seeing Izzy awaken the  fading spirit of a human being than there could every be watching the stock market rise.