My Morning Challenges Makes An Exciting Day, for the Dog!
Know Before You Go and Come Prepared
My eyes open, slightly, a smile instantly covers my face, the covers are thrown off, I stand up, and break into a musical song, starting the day again!
Did that happen? Hell No! It’s Monday. I sleep through the alarm and awaken with the dog licking my hand. Maybe it is hungry, thirsty, and it just wants to go for a walk. Memories of the film “Cujo” flash between my eyes, but no snarling or signs of trouble. So, I throw something on and walk the dog.
Down the stairs, barely throwing on a pair of shoes, the leash is affixed to the dog’s collar, and the dog makes a beeline out the door. I hear the “slam” of the door behind me, closing off my place from the elements. Rule one of owning a dog: when the dog wants to go, it is best if the dog goes outside of the house, just so you don’t have to clean it later. Why is it the bags that you use to pick up the remains of the dog, dog bags, is the same name as the bags you get at the restaurant if you want to take some of your plate home to eat later? In this story, dog bags are little plastic bags used to pick up the remains of the dog.
The dog does … well what any dog does first thing in the morning. I reach into my pockets for bags. Dang, it! (Note: Sorry for the language). No bags! I promise to pick it up later. As I walk back to the house, a guy yells through the open driver’s window, “Pick up your dog’s stuff!”. I try to explain the situation, but they are gone.
The dog sniffs at the ground, poles, fire hydrants, trash cans, and anything with a scent. Accommodating? Sure thing. It’s the dog's time outside. Small drops of water come from the sky. As the dog continues to sniff, the frequency of the water droplets increases. I look at the dog, try to pull the collar enough to leave. The dog is transfixed on a scent. The water on the sidewalk forms puddles. I have no umbrella. My shoes are letting in water. I pull the collar again, the dog continues to sniff. In a minute, I am soaked from head to toe. That is when the dog decides that the scent is recognized and starts to walk home.
On the way home, I feel an item whizz past my head and a voice, “Pick up your dog's stuff!”. The rain is heavy now. I look back and the pile is gone, moves with the rain, destination unknown.
I make it home sobbing wet. The dog is happy. The human is not. Reaching for the doorknob, turning it slightly, and meeting resistance. The door does not open, gears do not engage, and I am standing outside with a wet dog, wet human, no cell phone, and no way to re-enter the house.
“Crap!”, I utter into the world. No, I wasn’t thinking about the dog stuff that I didn't pick up, but the situation that I am in. A big boatload of crap.
Bottom line: If the dog wakes you up in the morning because it needs to go out, please remember to 1) bring your keys, 2) bring some dog bags, and 3) bring a phone in case you get locked out of the house.
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I want to give a shout-out to Arbab Z. in their article: “Do You Know: What is Love”. Love is not something that is quantifiable, qualifiable, or can be measured. It is a feeling. The article talks about the attributes and characteristics of love. Nicely done!
The alarm releases the gate, it’s time to move on.
