Yes, there is a slight ticking that grows louder, more insistent at times. Prompting me to kneel down, stroke her fur, say, "Kitty, you're here," to underscore our good fortune. Though at times that haunting Mary Oliver line, "How many summers does a little dog have?" sounds like a muted bell tolling softly far away. Off in the distance, still. But not as far away as before.
For a day last week, she was joined by Virginia, our son's rescue dog, en route to his wedding in Milwaukee. She is, according to a DNA test, a poodle, chihuahua, a bunch of other things mix, though I don't see it. I think of her as a coiled knot of muscle, practically levitating at the end of the leash as I try to walk her and Kitty.
"I wish they could bottle some of that so I could have it," I say, an older gentleman's phrase if ever there were. My store of summers is also running down.
She is rarely still a moment, which is why I immediately shot the photo above, when Virginia paused to soak up the sun in our living room. Ordinarily she is racing around the furniture, her beloved stuffed mallard duck — well, actually Kitty's — clamped in her jaws. Better the duck than the key fob to my Mazda, which also found its way into her mouth. She made short work of it, a wet clump of masticated electronics.
For a day last week, she was joined by Virginia, our son's rescue dog, en route to his wedding in Milwaukee. She is, according to a DNA test, a poodle, chihuahua, a bunch of other things mix, though I don't see it. I think of her as a coiled knot of muscle, practically levitating at the end of the leash as I try to walk her and Kitty.
"I wish they could bottle some of that so I could have it," I say, an older gentleman's phrase if ever there were. My store of summers is also running down.
She is rarely still a moment, which is why I immediately shot the photo above, when Virginia paused to soak up the sun in our living room. Ordinarily she is racing around the furniture, her beloved stuffed mallard duck — well, actually Kitty's — clamped in her jaws. Better the duck than the key fob to my Mazda, which also found its way into her mouth. She made short work of it, a wet clump of masticated electronics.
A new fob was acquired, expensively, the dog immediately forgiven. My fault for leaving it on a coffee table. Now she's a welcome albeit periodic and temporary addition to our home — the fob secured safely in a drawer beforehand. I admire her boundless energy, though do breath a sigh of relief on those rare occasions when she goes into relaxation mode and just exists for a while, we two together.
"Thus we sit myself," Oliver writes. "Thinking how grateful I am for the moon's perfect beauty and also, oh! How rich it is to love the world."
How rich it is to love the world. That, I believe will be a useful yardstick in the years to come. We measure wealth in billions, lately, but that seems the wrong metric. We should really ask: how much do they love the world? Quite poorly, based on their words and deeds. My sense is many supposed wealthy people are not really well-off at all. Not in the way that I, and I hope you, are, on our better days.
How rich it is to love the world. That, I believe will be a useful yardstick in the years to come. We measure wealth in billions, lately, but that seems the wrong metric. We should really ask: how much do they love the world? Quite poorly, based on their words and deeds. My sense is many supposed wealthy people are not really well-off at all. Not in the way that I, and I hope you, are, on our better days.
A lovely dog story complete with a lovely quote, ending with satisfying final thoughts. Thanks for something different to read, photos to look at, things to contemplate.
ReplyDelete—Becca
You are profound. The billionaires keep seeking more money, more power, more control, new, younger partners, and who knows what else? You and I are rich in the way our lives have turned out beyond what we ever hoped for. Except I do not have a dog!
ReplyDeleteVirginia is beautiful. Dogs are so much better than people. When I retired, I began adopting senior shelter dogs. They were a joy, but time with them is limited. The last one is gone five years now. Too old for another dog, I love my cat but oh, how I miss my dogs.
ReplyDeleteHave had feline companions for the last forty years, but have not adopted a kitten for decades. Only senior kitties. You finally reach the age where a new kitten is too rambunctious...and you will wind-up leaving it an orphan, when it outlives you.
DeleteHad an eleven-year old orange tabby for only four more years, because he had health issues, but I still miss Leo, my Orangy Boy, five years later. He was half of a bonded pair. All-black Onyx was only five then. She's 14 now. I do the same thing to her that Mr. S. does to his dog. I stroke her shiny, glossy fur and she flops on her back and rolls around and I say: "Onyx, I'm so happy you're here."
I am all too aware that day will eventually come when she will not be here. The older a kitty gets, the more you keep thinking about it. Been through it a dozen times in the last few decades, and it never gets any easier.
Can't remember why that dog is named Kitty...I'm old. But we had a cat named Daugh. My wife told her allergist: "I can't thank you enough for the shots. I got a kitty...and I named him for you."
He answered: "You named him Silas?"
"No", she replied. "I named him Daugherty."
Unless I'm mistaken, Grizz, the dog is named Kitty perhaps partly just 'cause it's cute, but primarily after a character in "Anna Karenina."
DeleteMy blood pressure has been lowered for the moment, thank you, by the distraction of your sweet family pets. And I, too, have been wondering about the various definitions of wealth for some time now, but especially in the past week. Billionaires devoid of compassion and empathy who now will have high level roles but absolutely no interest in acting as fiduciaries for the benefit of the people. I'd feel sorry for them if they weren't now in positions to screw us all. So, I'm trying hard to concentrate on the wealth of joy and wonder around me - our grown kids, our grandkids, our family's sweet dogs and cat (and one little fish still alive after six months!), our wonderful circles of friends. The people we met, the cultures we experienced, and beautiful places we visited on a recent trip halfway around the world. Family, friends, new acquaintances full of compassion, empathy, acceptance, curiosity, and the resolve to keep trying to raise everyone's boat. I am so much richer than so many billionaires - and, sad to learn, perhaps so many voters in this country.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this column as it puts things into perspective for me too.
DeleteMy wife was in an auto accident last night but some how survived though shaken as the car was totaled.
Summers are winding down for me also but as I could have lost her, I realize even more how lucky I am .
PS Somehow we’ll survive Trump too!
Thank you, a tonic for the day.
ReplyDeleteThat is why dog is God spelled backwards
ReplyDeleteI see some Jack Russell terrier in that dog.
ReplyDeleteMakes you think that all dogs are from Bhutan, where they have a absolutely serious minister in charge of Gross National Happiness.
ReplyDeleteI love the article and all the comments too! So, about the Mazda, I just bought a Mazda3 in July. First one in the family. I really like it, except it’s kind of low to the ground getting in and out with my failing knees.
ReplyDeleteExcellent column, thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of another column you once wrote about your pet-sitting/pet-hosting experiences.... but it involved a rambunctious CAT.
What a vicious cycle it is to chase after wealth, and at such a cost, too. For those who actually reach their financial goals, very few are satisfied with the result. They merely revise their financial goals higher.
Great column - a keeper as I like to say! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Congratulations to your son and his wife!
ReplyDeleteLovely post.
ReplyDeleteI've only been attached to one dog in my adulthood and it was taken away from me in a brutal divorce 30 years ago. In some inexplicable way, he is still alive, although I know better. Neil, if you are lucky, given the marriages of your sons, you and your wife will one day become grandparents. That is for me the greatest measure of wealth. It is also another way of measuring the flight of time. Congratulations of you and your family. The best is yet to come.
ReplyDelete"The more people I meet....the more I love my dog!....unsure of the source
ReplyDelete"If you want a friend in Washington...get a dog." [Harry Truman}
ReplyDelete