Today, I broke one of the laws of Men. While walking my beautiful 21 pound dog, Annie, down Gardner Street towards the Mystic River my eyes caught sight of a strip of pristine green grass next to a condominium complex. There were many people around the neighborhood, as there always are, but no condo denizens sat or strolled near the Green Mile.So I seized the opportunity to let my beloved canine go "off leash" for a few minutes on grass that didn't belong to me. A rebel I was, but with a cause. The cause was, and remains still, to make Annie happy. Her happiness is the most important thing in my universe. Why? Because human beings are short-sighted, greedy and fanatical, and any creature that relies on humans for a fair shake is not going to fair well. There isn't much I can do about that, except spoil all of my pets rotten, in a Karmic attempt to balance out the atrocities in the world around us.
That was the abstract idea behind taking her off leash to run amok on condo property. If anyone tried to stop us, I could passionately advocate compassion, kindness and decency. To let my little dog, rescued from the mean, hot and aromatic streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico run wild for a moment or two on this cool, June day.
But nobody tried to stop us. While I thought about the trees swaying back and forth in the breeze, the smell of paint wafted off a recently painted flag pole. It was pleasant. Annie took advantage of a rare treat in the city; off leash sprinting. What Linda calls, "Zoomies." She bounded back and forth at least 10 times, and with a little guile I managed to slip the leash back on her. I kissed her, and we ran down the street and into the projects where I live. In my study at The House of Four Cats, Annie and I continued playing. It was wonderful.
And now it is locked in my memory. Ha! Oh, no they can't take that away from me.
The cliche of a lonely person finding company and solace in cats and dogs. There are many people like me. Animals are ancient magic. They remind us that we are just animals, too. Smart, strange animals, but animals nonetheless.
Annie looks at me. Those eyes say a lot as she leans over with a playful lick.
2 comments:
i specifically bought this house for my two dogs i had at the time so they could run around the back yard - not much of a house - but a great yard - every year we have more birds and butterflies and squirrels in the trees and even a fox - so very nice to live amoung the animals - so very peaceful -
What a beautiful post. (Not that I'm prejudiced or anything)... but off-leash sprinting, as you call it, does wonders for her and you. (and me!) She's just so happy! and Spots is the same way. You should see her " BOLT" from the house into the back yard.. You need to come over next week (I'm on vacation) with Annie...
Give her a hug and kiss for me!
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