Lacey's Walk

Another Monday morning...the house is quiet. Everyone has left for the day. This morning I did yoga in complete silence and it was nice. The dog spent her time staring at me, willing me to take her for a walk. This time off from school has been a blessing. I am actually able to establish some sort of routine for myself without feeling like I've left something undone. Yesterday on our walk we happened into a wonderful surprise. An old friend who after we conversed for a short time, bent down and kissed Lacey on the head. I thought "now what kind of person kisses someone else's dog on the head?" Sure she is cute, but I am the only one who usually spoils her with that kind of attention. This small action just revealed so much to me. This man is undoubtedly a very gentle person who can readily connect with one of God's creatures. He was not overruled by his masculine role and didn't seem to care what others might think. He displayed a sincere gesture of loving kindness and as I am certain Lacey did not mind, I was truly touched that he would do such a thing. It is this gentle nature that the world could use more of. Of course I am not suggesting that we should go around kissing animals as an act of humanity, but just that we might slow down enough to experience the reciprocal nature of others. Lacey is a people's dog. She is very gentle and loving and this man slowed down enough to appreciate her! It's no wonder she gets so excited to go for a walk! I have really made an effort to walk her a little more regularly than I have in the past. She is 6 years old and I can see that her hips are beginning to trouble her. Hip dysplasia is very common amongst Golden Retrievers and so I am hoping regular exercise will help. It is only noticable when she is getting up from a laying down position that it is noticable. I think her and I are in the same boat. Some mornings I need an oil can to get out of bed! I really am quite attached to her so I want her healthy for selfish reasons. She is always near by and rarely lets me get out of her sight. She has the cutest personality. When we are out working in the garden she has to have her nose in everything I am doing (literally). She walks around and smells the flowers and occasionally stops to peek through the knot hole in the fence to see if there is anything going on in the neighbor's backyard. She loves it when I pick strawberries and share them with her. I'm quite surprised she hasn't figured out how to get them herself. She is very intelligent, as the Postman can attest to. She loves to retrieve the mail, so if we hear the mail truck when it approaches we send her out and she goes right up to the mail man so he doesn't have to get out of his truck and he wraps a rubberband around the bulk of mail to keep it together and gives it to her to carry in. Most times we don't hear the truck so she has to settle for a walk to the mailbox where she can carry a letter in from there. She always gets a treat once inside. She has been the best family dog. She loves to go camping and backpacking, although I don't think I would risk taking her on any lengthy backpacking trips anymore. She has her own backpack and we always make her carry her own water and food. When we took her to Bull Run Lake she would stop and roll around in every patch of snow she saw. It was fun to watch but then we would have to stop and get her pack all straightened out again. She loves to go ahead of us on the trail, but she will only go so far and then come back to where we are. For every mile we went, she probably went two or three. It is funny how she will eagerly run through the creeks and will jump into the lake at Pinecrest but she will not get into the swimming pool at home. We have never been able to get her in. It is probably for the best anyway, dog hair and filters probably are not the best combination. Anyway, her and I had better get our day started. I want to go out to my mom and dad's house today to give them a hand with some of their chores and visit for awhile, but first I have to get some of my own finished. I pray that this will be a blessed day and that I will recognize the value of time and appreciate any unexpected turn of events.