Cindy Beringer: A Good Smidgen, Season of Sheltering in Place

Cindy Beringer shares how her fur baby, Smidgen, has undergone changes in the past 13 years.

Resources
Teresa Y. Roberson is a writer, visual artist, producer and Zilis Independent Ambassador (#7161976). Zilis does not endorse the CBD & Poetry podcast nor any material presented as a result. Statements made in CBD & Poetry podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Non-prescription CBD is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical conditions. The CBD & Poetry discussion is not intended as medical advice and should not substitute advice from a healthcare professional.

Music

• Intro Music: "Green Magic" Cabrini Green, Green Magic Album. 
• Outro Music: "Bumpin That Real Shit"Cabrini Green, This Is Ghettostep Album
• cabrinigreenenterprises.com

A Good Smidgen 

Old sweet and quirky

Smidgen’s such a good boy

Barking like he’ll kill the mail carrier if given a chance

Honestly, he’s the coward of the county

Joints a little rusty

Allergies occasionally flare up

But at least he still has an appetite

T-R-E-A-T-S’s are his favorite

Transcript

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. Now, the reason I wanted to interview you, I just wanted to get some background on you. You said you don't use CBD yourself, but you use it for Smidgen. Can you tell us about Smidgen?

Cindy  

Smidgen is about 13-year-old, almost 14, I guess, year old dog. He's a kind of an interesting black and white and gray, you know, dog. He's just really, really sweet. He's got a lot of little quirks and so forth. And he loves to bark at peopleoutside the back. He's gentle and loving. But he was just sitting in the rug there by the front door, glass and locked. And he when the postman comes every day, he tears it that thing he scratched it, it's just unbelievable like he's gonna kill him. And he wouldn't he wouldn't harm a flea, you know. Hey, and he loves chasing the cars that are going in the backyard. They go back and forth. 

Teresa Roberson 

Right. 

Cindy  

But and he's really coward of a county.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, wow. What breed of dog?

Cindy  

Yeah, they said, I got him, drove all the way down to McAllen, Texas to get him at about eight months old then. And they said he was a large Shih Tzu mix and the only Shih Tzu that you see is that they have that sort of curled tail.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, okay. 

Cindy  

He looks like a terrier.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay, okay. 

Cindy  

There's some subtle shades of blue and gray and stuff. 

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, that sounds beautiful.

Cindy  

He's really is a really cute little dog. I wouldn't say beautiful, but he's cutie. But I'm very prejudiced.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay, so he's been your fur baby since he was a puppy.

Cindy  

Yes.

Teresa Roberson 

And you said you went to McAllen to get him?

Cindy  

I drove all the way down there. I was doing this online. I lost a dog that I'd had for about 17 years and I just looked and saw him and he looked so cute. And I am gonna drive down here, so I did. 

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, that is awesome. Now have you always lived in Austin with him? Is Austin his home? Now I've got a silly question. I don't know, because it's been a long time since I've been I had a childhood dog, but not one as an adult. Do dogs get allergies?

Cindy  

Yes, they do. They really do. I had a dog. He had a really good friend and a little little dog that I had put to sleep about two months ago, nearly killed me. And he licked himself constantly and Smidgen started to do that too. They definitely get allergies. He takes CBD oil twice a day. Half a dropper of this pet, it's pet reliefs, you know, hemp oil, and I think that probably helps it.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy  

It didn't help the other dog. I mean, he just was constantly licking and stuff. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. And who told you, was it a veterinarian who told you about CBD for your dog or was that primarily for allergy or other symptoms?

Cindy  

It was, it was for out also for and also I think it helped and it's not quite as good now as it was, it helped with his, his joints, his um, his he sometimes walks very stiff legged, and he but when he can run and he can bend his back legs and stuff and actually I saw at the pet store they have all this fancy stuff for pets. That's unbelievable. And I thought, huh, you know, I think I had read about it for dogs or something like that. And so, I was just started using it and I've been using it for probably at least a year probably longer.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. And in that time, you've taken them to the vet. Has the vet also seen like improvements or changes?

Cindy  

Actually he hasn't.  It’s about due for his checkup and stuff which, you know, was probably won't happen for a while because of the coronavirus. 

Teresa Roberson 

Right, right. 

Cindy   

He hasn't been and the other dog, you know, I was constantly checking him in and he ended up having a $2,000 surgery on his eyes. They removed his eyes and then he still didn't make it. So

Teresa Roberson 

That's right. I remember you saying something about that. Okay.

Cindy   

Now, yeah, he really hasn't, you know, he's been doing great. And he's probably about due for his annual so it's probably good. It's been less than a year I guess that we've been doing it.

Teresa Roberson 

But okay, so he's been on CBD for a year. Can you just tell us like the before and after?

Cindy     

I don't know that there's that I could tell you that there's any growth.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay.

Cindy   

I think it helps. It helps with his joints. I will I think that that's the main reason I got it. Is to help with his joints. And like I say it didn't help the other dog for his itching, crazy itching. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy   

And he's lately done some itching but I just think it's it's the allergy right now are just horrible.

Teresa Roberson 

Right? What is he allergic to?

Cindy   

The same thing. Yeah, well, he's not nearly as bad as he the other one. The other one just you know, bitting. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy   

I guess he's starting to feel it a little bit, y'know.

Teresa Roberson 

The only reason I ask is he was born in McAllen. I never had allergies until I moved to Austin.

Cindy     

Yeah. I've heard that from a lot of people.

Teresa Roberson 

I didn't. I didn't think I was the type because my sister, we grew up in North Carolina. My sister had hay fever. And I just thought, "Wow, I'm so glad I don't have allergies." And then you hear about people who have food allergies and whatnot. Then I come here to Austin in, I think I was about 39.

Cindy     

Post nasal drip.

Teresa Roberson 

Right? 

Cindy     

Yeah, it you know, so I, my nose constantly runs it when it when the you know when the allergies are up, but it's not bad and I can live with it. 

Teresa Roberson 

Mm hmm. 

Cindy   

You know, it's…

Teresa Roberson 

Did you grow up in Austin?

Cindy     

No, I but I've lived all over the world. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy     

But I've been in Austin for 20 years. We're retired in Kingsbury, which is a little country town out in Seguin.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy  

In that area, it's a little was a little bit weird to live out in the country and then we got divorced and he wanted me to stay there in the house out in the country where no I had no I had neighbors but nobody like you know, they were old.

Teresa Roberson 

Right. 

Cindy     

And that was 20 years ago and I wouldn't know anyway, I would have been lonely as everything so I said, "Nope, I'm moving to Austin." So I did. 

Teresa Roberson 

That's where it's happening. Yeah, yeah. 

Cindy   

Working. And it's been, it was a good choice.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. Okay, now have you yourself tried CBD for allergies or just to see what effect it would have on you?

Cindy     

I haven't I just haven't. I thought about it. I and my allergies are not that horrible. Although I will say I do I get just skin itching, you know from certain periods of the year I'll just scratch myself to death. I mean literally. I have bumps all over my back. I don't know whether that would be good for that or not. I hadn't thought about it.

Teresa Roberson 

Okay.

Cindy     

But, it's what, I forget what I paid for that that stupid stuff. It's at least $50 for a little bottle, if not more, and that's one reason. I tried it.

Teresa Roberson 

Mm hmm. So, the reason I was asking that is you moved to Austin and you had allergies, but it doesn't seem like you're getting the full treatment. When I first came down with allergies. I I thought I had the flu. Honestly,

Cindy     

No, I don't I get itching and that sort of thing and a run. I bet my nose has been running for solid for three months now. Just a little run and you know,

Teresa Roberson 

And now people will give you a side eye if you sniff.

Cindy   

I know and occasionally it will drip into my throat a little bit. But I'm saying, "No, I don't have coronavirus."

Teresa Roberson 

I know. That's the thing. I mean, one thing that I found that would really help was a having cough drops. And just, you know, having a cough drop, but even now.

Cindy   

Hot tea helps me a lot.

Teresa Roberson 

You can't…

Cindy     

Herbal teas and stuff they got that helps.

Teresa Roberson 

Right, but you can't carry your cup of tea everywhere, whereas cough drops. . .

Cindy     

Yeah, I would use cough drops when I had when I had real bad attacks. I haven't had a real bad attack in a long time. 

Teresa Roberson 

So you're getting used to it or…

Cindy     

I don't know. I will I haven't had, let's see, where was it? I guess. I went on a cruise. You may have heard me talk about it, a Caribbean cruise in December. It was like the eighth through the 15th and the last day there, I had started with this cough and stuff. And I got so, my doctor sent me, I called her and said I'm having this cough and all this other stuff. And I was on the cruise and I was coughing and this was before corona, but you know people would look at you. Like you know cuz you're on the ship you pick up everything. Anyway, she sent me all this this medicine. Flunet. Flunose? Flunase or something. 

Teresa Roberson 

Flonase, okay. 

Cindy     

That works really well for me. I mean, I literally would get that puffed up so bad that I will cough all night long. I've been to meetings that I've, you know, where cough and people would look at me like why are you here when you're sick lady. You know and I still have that and that helps, but by the time I got it, I never opened it. I've still got two full packages of it.  Never opened it because it stopped.

Teresa Roberson 

You know, it's interesting that you should say you were cruising in December because my family, and when I say family I'm talking about there were 70 of us. So, it was extended family. It was almost like a family reunion.

Cindy     

On, you did it on a ship?

Teresa Roberson 

Yes. We went…

Cindy   

I've heard of people doing that. 

Teresa Roberson 

We went the day after Christmas to New Year's Day. And again, just like you said, we hadn't heard anything about coronavirus, but I was still, I just thought, "Wow, there's so many people on this ship. I'm so glad that they're cleaning it. And I thought even then, "Thank God, you know, there's a big staff." You know, to clean up after. Because it's like a tiny village or whatever.

Cindy     

It really is. And you're so you're so…

Teresa Roberson 

And I thought about that. And now to hear about coronavirus I thought, "Wow, we dodged the bullet."

Cindy     

You did. I know. They got people still on ships that haven't been let out yet.

Teresa Roberson 

I don't know, cause I think we only did five days. I don't know how anyone, by the fourth day I was ready to be off the ship personally. 

Cindy     

Well, we got to stop. We, there were three days. And they also had meetings. This was The Nation magazine. They did it. I went through them because they had a really good price. And I had meetings and stuff and talks, which were pretty good. But you know, and but there was, I went to Cozumel, Jamaica, and what else? One other place, which is drawing a blank, but three different places. You know, I would get off and walk you know, and toured for three different days and that was good.

Teresa Roberson 

And how long in duration was the cruise? 

Cindy     

It was eight days. 

Teresa Roberson 

Wow, I couldn't have done it. I would have…

Cindy     

It didn't bother me.  If I can read, I could read and I could sit there. Of course, I've said we had meetings and they'd have movies and stuff. 

Teresa Roberson 

We had movies too, but they were out on the deck and just freezing cold. Somebody convinced me because we chartered a bus, somebody told me to leave my coat on the bus. And I you know, thank goodness, I couldn't remember who that person was. I mean, I'm being good right now. But you know, I have a potty mouth.

Cindy     

It was warm. I didn't have to worry about that. Yeah, it was pretty warm most of the time.

Teresa Roberson 

No, that's fantastic. 

Cindy     

Yeah, now it was it was busy. I and it was like if we hadn't had those days off, it would have been a bit much, but 

Teresa Roberson 

Mm hmm. 

Cindy   

And I was all by myself. I had my little cabin all by myself and that was fine. I mean, I'd read.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, that. That is nice. 

Cindy   

Yeah. 

Teresa Roberson 

So, tell us, Smidgen is now a senior citizen in dog years. 

Cindy  

He is definitely a senior citizen and it's beginning to show and it's okay. 

Teresa Roberson 

Other than chasing cars and being very aggressive toward mailmen, what did he like to do in his prime? 

Cindy  

Eat! He lives to eat. He literally does. We have T-R-E-A-T-Ss in the afternoon.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, he knows that word.

Cindy     

Yes, he does. Oh yeah, he's pretty smart. He knows that word for sure. And he'll come in and he'll come back there and, you know, tell me it's time if I, you know, he and then he'll come in and not before I go back in the in that area where there's this old kitchen cabinet thing where I keep his T-R-E-A-T-Ss and he'll he'll come in and sort of beg, "Can I have one now?" You know, that's his favorite thing is eating and he also loves to go for walks. I took, you know, I took both of them for walks almost every day when the weather's good. And he really misses his friend. It's obvious the other dog and he…

Teresa Roberson 

Did they grow up as pups together?

Cindy     

They were pretty much together the whole time. I got him first and then the other one a little bit later. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay.

Cindy   

And not much later at all. I could have missed him right away, you know when and and I think he's, I don't know if there's times when I don't think he's over it. He'll just cry. Which you know, just little, you know, and and which is not like him and I think he's I think he's feeling some pain in his back legs. Like I say he'll still chase that car up and down the you know, the back.

Teresa Roberson 

Right? 

Cindy   

But he walks in and he loves going for walks, but I can tell that he's getting tired. 

Teresa Roberson 

Sooner. 

Cindy     

Yeah. 

Teresa Roberson 

Okay. 

Cindy   

You know, I don't know how much of this is what do you call anthropomorphism, or whatever, you know my putting myself into it, but it just seems like he's having a little difficulty and he's, you know, I've got a bad knee and all this other stuff. I'm not real fast at my age and he's actually sometimes has a little bit of trouble catching up with me.

Teresa Roberson 

I tell you what you're talking about. I have seen dogs walk their owners and or I should say "fur babies" walk their human parents and that is sometimes out of control. It's a good thing that you two are walking at the same pace, or walking at a comfortable pace. 

Cindy     

He still has trouble keeping up. 

Teresa Roberson 

Mm-hmm. 

Cindy  

We do off leash too at Central Park, we do off leash and stuff and so he…

Teresa Roberson 

Central Park?

Cindy     

Have you ever been to Central Park? 

Teresa Roberson 

No! 

Cindy     

It's Central Market.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, Central Market, okay.

Cindy     

It's a market behind there. They have, if you ever been? Eaten there? 

Teresa Roberson 

Yes, yes.

Cindy   

That's the park the whole park behind it.

Teresa Roberson 

I didn't know that was called that, okay.

Cindy  

Yeah and it's really great. They have, I see ibises there and egrets and there's turtles and, you know, birds and of course, you know I'm a nature freak.

Teresa Roberson 

Right. For some reason, you said, "Central Park," I thought New York. 

Cindy     

You're thinking of New York. 

Teresa Roberson 

Like a crazy woman. Yes.

Cindy   

Yeah, we're at Central Park in front of Central Market. Yeah.

Teresa Roberson 

Well, I know. I know that. New York is always in the news, but it's really in the news now. 

Cindy     

Yes. 

Teresa Roberson 

With it being, it seems like, one of the hotspots for the pandemic at this time and when you're talking about medical supplies and whatnot, they're all going there. So, you said “Central Park.” My mind went there.

Cindy     

Yeah, we don't fly to New York to walk.

Teresa Roberson 

That would be luxurious, wouldn't it? 

Cindy     

But he just loves smelling other dogs' pee. He can just, he can he'll go along and he'll just tell you know, some other dog has been there and he does that in the neighborhood too. We walk the neighborhood. 

Teresa Roberson 

Mm hmm. 

Cindy     

That's really fun for dogs. I'm glad it's not a human trait.

Teresa Roberson 

Yeah, we can take advantage of maybe smelling flowers. 

Cindy   

Yeah. Listening to birds sing and just just the sights. 

Teresa Roberson 

Right. Well, I am about like Smidgen now that we are in a shelter in place. I also, I used to not check my mail every day. And now I'm walking, to because I'm in an apartment, I walk in check my mail. I walk to my nearest nearest grocery store. Normally, I would just hop in the car, but I've got to have some reason to get out of the apartment. I mean, I can everything.

Cindy   

Well, I mean, I, you know, and I don't know how much I garden and I read and that's what I do with my life, you know, and what and walk the dog and, and I have to be outside. You know, part of the time. But people I mean, you know, I pass people in Central Park and I'll pass people you know, if you say six feet away. You know, it's not so bad. I mean, it's okay. And I don't know, I keep forgetting to wash my hands. But I'm in my own damn house. Nobody else touches the doorknobs. Why should I wash my hands?

Teresa Roberson 

I think, well, one thing I have started doing is as soon as I get to my apartment, I wash my hands. I automatically take off my shoes, because I don't want to track anything in and that's just that's just me.

Cindy     

Yeah, but I don't know that you can track that in your shoes.

Teresa Roberson 

I don't know, but I'm just saying my own habit is take off my shoes. I walk around barefoot, but it is now a new habit to wash my hands immediately when I walk in before I touch anything else, because you know you go anywhere and you are inevitably touching doors or what have you.

Cindy     

I usually wear gloves, but I forgot the other night. I go to Wheatsville. This little tiny grocery store down from us. It's really good. And I, I'll go in there I try to go at night when it's not crowded at all. And I wear these gloves and I use, they give you towels and stuff and I tear them off and I'd so I put the towel on the shopping cart thing, which I'll get off of some but, but I mean it's touched all this stuff and I clean my, my door handle when I get out, not when I get in, or when I come back to get in after been somewhere. I clean that off if I think about it and, you know, and then but it's just it's just hard to remember to do all that stuff so much. 

Teresa Roberson 

Right, right. 

Cindy   

I don't really come in contact with too many people and I do have this guy who helps me in my garden, which is enormous. And he came the other day and he's fine. I you know, I just I'm trying not to be too paranoid and I can't see my grandkids, which just drives me crazy.

Teresa Roberson 

Oh, they weren't with you last week for spring break?

Cindy     

No, they weren’t. They were going to come up for a couple of days. And then my there's a 13-year-old and a two year old and the 13-year-old had a sniffle and they wouldn't bring her because of me.

Teresa Roberson 

Well, that's understandable. 

Cindy     

Yeah, it is. 

Teresa Roberson 

But you know what?

Cindy     

Not sure. I mean, I don't know how long this is going to go on. I don't know if I'll say my grandkids, ever.

Teresa Roberson 

Cindy, now that I have taught you a new technology trick, you can use Zoom. If you can see me you can see your grandkids. 

Cindy     

That's …

Teresa Roberson 

That's all I'm saying. It's not It's not that hard to do. 

Cindy     

The 13-year-old helping me with my iPhone since she was six.

Teresa Roberson 

Right, right. So, shelter in place. What is this new saying now “social distancing doesn't have to be social isolation.”

Cindy     

I had. I had all these summer plans for because my son. I don't do the things that I do with kids. You know? She has all this stuff at home and plays, but I like to be outside. And we go for walks and we go to the swings and by the train by Zilker Park and all these plans.

Teresa Roberson 

Right? Right. Well, if nothing else today, I hope I've given you a new way to interact with your grandkids and rest of your family and friends. I would hate for me. I mean, as wonderful as I think of myself, I would hate that I'm the only one you get to see and talk to you, using this technology.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai