Sunday, November 28, 2010

Butch

It's no secret I'm a dog person. I've wanted one as a pet for as long as I can remember. It wasn't until the year I got married that Honey became my first and only. It actually pains me to think how old she's getting — almost 12 — even though she still leads the way on our 5K loop.

We were on one of our excursions today when we walked past her boyfriend's house — Butch, the 3-year-old Golden and neighborhood nomad.  (Yes, Honey's part cougar). As friendly as Butch is, he's a cautious dog and didn't come running up to us right away. Only after Honey barked did he come our direction. After a requisite scruff and sniff, Honey and I continued on our way and Butch loped home. Seconds later he was back, leash dangling from his smiling jaws. Never have I been so tempted to kidnap someone else's dog. It's one thing to have a dog follow you on a walk; it's quite another to lead it off with its own leash. I shook my head and needlessly explained to Butch that I couldn't. As if he understood, he dropped the leash and followed us home.

As he slipped through our neighbour's garden, heading back to his house, I couldn't help but wish he ours. I'm not sure his family realizes what a special dog they have. I bet they never even noticed he was gone.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Mealworms and Me

"Mommy, our science unit on living things is almost over. We can bring our mealworms home if we have permission. Can I?"

And I thought the challenge of my 40th year was going to be school...