Firefly Patch..

It never ceases to amaze me how when we push ourselves just a skosh, the gifts that reveal themselves to us. For instance, tonight...

I had already donned my paisley pajama pants and black camisole. I prepared a cup of chamomile tea with honey, overly-sweetened by most people's standards, but just the way I like it! I was ready to head upstairs when Abigail gave me the nod and ran to sit next to the front door. "Oy vey! I can't walk around the neighborhood in my jammies, Abigail." The voice of reason piped in... "What if I have to take a sh**?"

"Okay, you win." I quickly slipped on my black leather flip flops and headed out on our path. The humid summer night enveloped me as I walked. Tiny flickers surrounded me. It was as if I were walking through a firefly patch! That is, if there is such a thing. It brought me back to memories of childhood in my front lawn catching fireflies and storing them in a mason jar topped with a shiny gold lid punched with holes.

I felt like I hadn't seen fireflies in years! Is that even possible?

I continued walking with Abigail. I was a few paces behind her and we turned the block. As we approached the next corner, a man from his garage called out. I smiled, waved back and Abigail trotted up to greet him. "Great," I thought, "not exactly what I wanted on this walk!" After properly introducing Abigail and myself to this gentleman named Steve, he remarked, "Is she always so nice?" I smiled with great satisfaction and replied, "Yes, she is."

After giving her a minute to enjoy the company of her new friend, I gave a gentle cluck of my tongue and snap of my fingers. Abigail and I returned down the driveway to the sidewalk to continue on our path. At this moment, I felt myself overcome with joy.

To think... If I had been selfish and not given the extra 15 minutes it took to give Abigail an additional walk she longed for, how much joy I would have missed out on!

Stop to Smell the Roses

This morning’s walk is dedicated to Mary Oliver who I was recently introduced to … A woman whose relationship with her dog and nature are equally as strong….

Abigail and I have become accustomed to walking without a leash. I find it necessary to scoop her solid, little body up only when other dog owners of more ferocious dogs have their pets off of leashes and Abigail gets territorial.

During this morning’s walk around the block, she bolted across the street and started heavily sniffing a mailbox. I made my way across the street to give he a gentle nudge to come back to our walking path and she moves along to the next mailbox, then the next and then the large shrub. I can tell that she has had this desire and she is filling her palate with all new, intriguing scents.

She reminded me that we often go through our routine because we are in a hurry and because it is the most efficient way. It is often a very pleasant and stress free as well, but every once in awhile you have to break from your path and make a dart across the street to “stop to smell the roses”, or mailboxes!