My furry friend
Growing up, I always wanted a dog. Probably because most of my friends had themtracheal tube, my favorite TV families had them.My Dad is very clean. Not just clean, I might say more Danny Tanner-ish in his habitstrue religion clothing. As in, he hoses down the backyard, and front walkway, and even gets halfway down the street, just for fun, until we have to yell, “Dad, you’re wasting water! You can’t hose down the worldcreative recreation sneakers!and starts the very important task of scrubbing the fingerprint smudges off the walls.
So, no dog. When I was eight, we moved across town to a larger housefoley catheter, with a pool, in a “safer” neighborhood, in a gated community. With a large yard. I was very against moving. Why, I cried, were we picking up and deserting everything and everyone we knew and lovedgauze?! Our old house was great, we had an avocado tree, it was on a super steep hill, what more could you want?! Well, in order to calm me downDisinfectants, I guess, my parents told me that we could get a dog when we moved to the new, barren home. I was soldAir Fresheners. I quickly shut my trap.
I feel it was serendipitous that we didn’t get a dog after the moveDisinfectants. My parents said that I would never walk it, which I vehemently denied, but which was probably true. And saying we would get a dog and not followingoutdoor lighting.through was pretty much the ONLY thing my parents ever promised that didn’t happen in my life so far. I guilted them about it for a few years, sobbing on holidays when I said “the only thingglobe valve. I want is a dog” and refused presents.
I am in my twenties now, and our new roommate just moved in. She has a dogtrue religion jeans. A West Highland Terrier, or Westie, as they are known. He is fluffy, but not too fluffy, small, but not too small, white, but not too white. He is perfecttimberland boots.I don’t even believe in perfection really, but this dog is perfect for ME. Its the dog I always dreamt of having, and it loves me as I knew a dog would. It follows me into the bathroomcocktail shaker .when I shower. At first we would scare each other, I was not used to having a non-human, living thing with a beating heart following me around and it indoor playground equipment.would surprise me around corners.
Slowly, we got used to each other. Now I can tell when the dog needs to go outoutdoor fitness equipment, or when he just sees a few birds in our yard. I give the doggie water, I walk him, and I teach him boundaries. My boyfriend was impressed when I taught him how to lieAmusement ride. in his bed while the humans are eating.
In some ways, I am glad I have (been forced to) wait until this age to have a dog aroundBungee trampoline. I don’t take him for granted. I am happy every morning when I wake up and hear his little nails clicking across the floor. We are a good match. I can see how a dog is not for everyonegolf clubs. They are very needy and require a lot of attention and affection and structure.Now my parents are semi-retired but my Dad travels a lot for worknail art. He’s off to Luxembourg, Mexico, or the Turks and Caicos every month. I ask my Mom if she would like a dog to keep her company. She says no, she has a stepdog now (ours) and she can visit it whenever she wants.And yes, my furry friend will go with me wherevernail care. I want to go and whenever.
I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to hit a ballcreative recreation shoes. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it hurts.My friend‘s look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyesabstract painting. "You‘ll never regret it," I say finally. Then, squeezing my friend‘s hand, I offer a prayer for her and me and all of the mere mortal landscape painting.women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings.
