Frieda has never been groomed or bathed by anyone but Maria, and rarely then. She doesn’t really like to be touched or handled by anyone but Maria and me, and that took me about two years. Frieda has lived in the wild – the Adirondacks, run down a deer (but not harmed her) eaten porcupines, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and most recently, a mouse that crossed her path on the porch. Wednesday, she and I are heading to Muddy Paws in Shushan, N.Y., where groomer Eileen Quackenbush is headquartered. Maria is otherwise occupied, no dummy. For fun, she pulls down trees and shreds them.

Eileen knows her stuff, and I think Frieda will be fine. I will help get her into the tub and stay with her. Wish us luck. Wish Eileen luck.