2004-02-04 - 1:13 p.m.
The dogs and I went for a little adventure the day before yesterday. We went for a ski through the woods, following a fresh snowmobile trail along the top of a ravine—a very good path, all in all. Except for one thing. We didn’t come out anywhere near where I had thought we would. My intention was to circle back into Wiscoy, whereupon we would walk back up the road to home, but we ended up at the back of a field on the outskirts of Fillmore about three and a half miles away. By the time this became apparent, we had descended a long ways and I didn’t feel like climbing back up. So, the path of least resistance beckoned and we continued on into town and went to visit my parents.
So, by the time we got back yesterday I was pooped. In the course of recovery I’ve come reluctantly to the realization that I’m no longer as young as I once was. But the dogs were pooped every bit as much as I. It wasn’t misery, exactly. But whatever it was, the dogs were feeling it too.
*******
Today I feel much better. The dogs do too. I opened the kitchen door to let them out this morning and Beau and Sirius made a mad beeline dash to the hickory tree in the back yard. Their purpose, when they do this, is to catch a squirrel unawares. To the best of my knowledge this has never happened, but hope springs eternal. They dash, the squirrels scamper. Tails flick and flag and everyone has a good time.
Chance just stands in the driveway and waits. Then he looks at me as if to say: “Geez, what a circus.”
*******
One more thing before I go. One of my dogs is a water dog; no doubt about it. Just before I came up to fill you all in on the interesting details of my charmed and wonderful life, I refilled the water bowl from a pitcher and Beau came over to drink. He likes moving water, I’ve noticed this before. If I’m out using the pitcher pump, for instance, he’ll bite at the stream of falling water, as if trying to capture it in mid-air. So, it’s not surprising that my pouring some water stimulated an interest. But, he didn’t come over to drink. No, he came to play, shoving his nose into the water, as if he were trying to pick something up off the bottom of the bowl. And of course he made a mess, splashing and dripping water all over the floor, but so what? I mean, what can you do but laugh?
Yep, it’s a dog’s life. No doubt about it.
