Gratitude,  Musings,  This Life...,  Uncategorized

Sunday Snippet–The Canine Version

If you know me at all, you know I’m not particularly a dog person, in spite of having three–yes, three–granddogs. They are all sweeties, but I’m very glad they live at Son’s house and not mine. (I realize the photo below shows four dogs with Son–it was Thanksgiving and his parents-in-law had brought their two critters over for the holidays, so four in the picture, five altogether that day!)

We have four dogs living on our cul-de-sac. Cooper, a large red Irish setter and Bo, a very large snowy retriever, belong to Jan. She takes them with her when she runs errands–apparently they enjoy car rides. Bo loves to run, too, so whenever Jan parks the car in the driveway and opens the doors, he leaps out and races across the yards. Sometimes, if we’re out, he stops for a quick sniff and hello. When that happens, we pet him obligingly and then tell him to go home because Jan is generally in the driveway calling to him.

This morning, as I sat at my desk working, I saw Bo streak across the yard, first to greet a runner on the street that our court empties onto and then to bark at the man who was unloading shingles from a delivery trailer on the side the road. (The folks across the street are getting a new roof.) The delivery guy bent down to speak to Bo, mostly, I think, to keep the car heading up the street from hitting him. But the car stopped as the kind man led Bo back to the sidewalk. About that time, Cooper ran over and literally, herded Bo back toward home.

I told Husband I imagined that Coop was rolling his eyes and scolding Bo. “Get your butt back home, you goofball. Not everyone wants to play or visit, and Jan is scowling. Come on, now, let’s go!” With one final woof at the deliveryman, Bo turned and allowed Coop to take him home. I’ve seen other neighbors shake their heads at Bo’s friendly antics, although they’re certain one day he is going to get hit out on the street. But so far, folks in the neighborhood seem to watch out for each other and each other’s pets. I like that.

No real point to this story except to say how much I love our new neighborhood. Even though we’ve lived here a year (officially on December 5), we are still feeling like the new kids, mostly because we haven’t really had time to get to know anyone. Covid restrictions hit just a nice weather arrived last spring. But we’ve enjoyed the little bit we’ve gotten to talk to our new neighbors, How we are looking forward to the day when we can stop to chat without the masks and social distancing. Until then, I hope my smile reaches my eyes because, neighbors, I am smiling as I go by.

Gratitude for today: Good report from my editor, I have work, we are all healthy, I made French bread last night and my house still smells heavenly, and there’s snow in the forecast.

Until next week, mes amies, stay well, stay safe, and most of all, stay grateful!

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