Mystery Solved

For once ... it's been a long time ... it's MY turn (Fergi) to share a Story

(If only they would listen to me ... and understand a bit better ...

Life could be a wee more comfortable around here)

It seems they started noticing more changes in my Behavior

Like

I independently started getting up on the Couch

(Something I'd never had the nerve to do, on my own Accord)

and

Sometimes

I'd curl up in a ball in the Corner of the Room

(Before I'd always go for my DoggieBed or the BigBed)

but

The difference was

I wasn't Happy

and

I'd shake like a Leaf with a worried look in my Eyes

Moma started fussing and worrying about me

And so did Jakey

On occasion I'd been sorta dragging on OurLongWalks

and

Moma was wondering if my "luxating patella" was getting worse

Jake tried to do his own Examination

but

Since it was time for my AnnualExam

We all went to the VET

and I got a thorough LookOver

(if you know what I mean)

Dr Batch (we all love him)

Watched me move

and 

He tenderly Touched and Massaged

Poked and Stretched

and then assured Moma that right now my knees are no worse

(Yippeeeee!)

I'm still at a Grade Two (of five) ... and there's no need for any real treatment

and

Best of All

I can get back to going on my LongWalks

Woohoo!

We are all ReallyReallyHappy!

For those of you who might want to know more

Here is a diagram of a luxated patella

The little bone ... the knee cap ... above the knee joint

Slips out of its groove

In my case, with a little (almost imperceptible) hop, skip and jump

It slips back where it's supposed to be

and

I don't seem to be having any significant pain

BUT

There is still the Question of my ChangingBehaviors

(They finally figured it out)

So

I ask YOU

What do these things in have in Common?

... a bed in the cabin on our Yellowstone trip last summer ...

... a very specific drawer ...

... a fork and a bowl ...

... shoes on a hardwood floor ...

... and THIS thing ...

(Do you know what it is?)

They all DO have something in Common

and

FINALLY

Moma figured out what was bothering me for a few days

Do you know the answer?

Well

It seems my eleven year old ears still have VeryGoodHearingCapacity

FINALLY

Moma heard something that I'd been hearing every once in a while, for a while

The SmokeAlarm in a DownstairsRoom was chirping and chirping

'cause, they said, the battery was running low

It's happened before

and

It puts me OverTheEdge

I hate that HighPitchedSqueakySound

I hate ALL HighPitchedSqueakySounds

and, bottom line, they terrify me

The bad part this time was I heard it long before Moma did 

(and Jake could care less)

NOW

(with a new battery ... Moma keeps a good supply of them!)

Things are back to normal

AND

I've learned that getting up on the couch is a VeryNiceThing

'Specially next to my Brother

Much Love

Fergi