Monday, August 18, 2008

Dog

Tonight's walk sucked. Plain and simple. From start to finish. In fact Duncan and I aren't even on speaking terms at the moment. He's hunkered down on the tile near the door, his back to me, and I've retreated to my desk to write before eating dinner and putting this damn day to bed. I'd like to take the high road, be all noble and tell you it was my fault, all of it, that there was some lesson Duncan tried to teach me which I struggled to learn and failed to grasp, that my day, spent among the whining students and arrogant faculty at work tainted my perception and prevented me from letting go and enjoying the walk for its mindfulness and absence of ego. I'd like to say those things but the truth of the matter is Duncan was being a shit. Plain and simple. It was all his fault. I was happy, carefree, excited to walk, but that quickly changed. There were no lessons, no flowers, no kisses on the strained edge of conflict. There was no cuteness, no rolling in the grass to expose his pink belly, no happy trotting up the yard to where the bunnies roost. There was only Duncan, pulling and straining, gagging and huffing and dragging me behind him, weaving back and forth, stopping suddenly, refusing to poop, refusing even at times to walk. He was a petulant child and tonight I can only say this: sometimes a dog is just a dog, not a guru, not salvation, not a creature untethered by the constraints we struggle against every day. Just a dog. A panting, pooping, farting, crotch-sniffing dog.

(Post Script: Since I published this post Duncan has been the cuddliest, kindest, baby-faced-est dog imaginable. His PR firm must've contacted him and reported that he needs to clean up his act. He does, after all, have a rep to protect!)

11 comments:

Greg said...

Well, we all have our bad days, that's for sure. Glad to hear he's getting his act together! And I'm glad you survived your day.

Anonymous said...

I feel like a broken record but that kid is gorgeous! I especially like that tamed devil in his eye. Makes you love him all the more his asking your forgivness with that face!

Nik said...

Life with a dog. Can't live with 'em...

Anonymous said...

Well as you wrote they are dogs. I sometimes forget that when Baylor does something I can't believe, then I remember he is a tamed little wild creature in a furry body I adore.
Check out my site, I left you a surprise because your blog rocks.
Blessings!

Anonymous said...

BAH HA HA!!! This post really made me laugh. There must have been something in the air. Murphy and Chloe were doing a fine job pissing me off on our walk last night too.

Lori Whitwam said...

Sometimes the "being a dog" thing IS the lesson, no? The good days aren't as good if you don't know how bad they can be.

Unknown said...

I feel your pain...Kona distroyed a shoe yesterday. His first (and hopefully last) one ever. We were gone for the day with the kids at a water park.

I think he was trying to remind me that he is just a puppy...

Chris and Mackenzie said...

I think we're all entitled to a bad day here and there. Glad to hear the day ended on a high note!

Chris

Anonymous said...

Aw, but dogs do pick up on our energy. So if you were having a hard time with letting the day go, and being in the NOW, then perhaps Duncan picked up on that. I love this blog!!! My new little find. Going into my Google reader. Duncan is precious.

Anonymous said...

I just have to say, your dog Duncan is sooo fantastic!! I love this idea for a blog, an you have a very neat style of writing - Great job & that dog is soo dam cute, i cant stand it!!

Joey

Anonymous said...

Hilarious!!! A nice bit of the other side of reality. It is that whole yang to your usual yin.