Right now, I should be writing a reaction paper on a chapter I read in my Schools and Society class. Instead, I lay here on my bed with a warm laptop across my legs and a sleeping puppy at the foot of my bed.
Actually, not so much a puppy anymore. My little bundle of black fur is 11 years old today. 77 dog years, or something like that.
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She is certainly doing her
birthday right.
Enjoying every minute.
11 years might not seem like a long time to have a dog, but Cherry has been with me throughout most of my childhood and so to me it seems like she's been around forever.
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
So for me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
Not many people see this side of me. I've always had a soft spot for dogs and I cannot think of a dog that I've met that I haven't liked.
Scratch that. One time at the dog beach a pit bull attacked my Cherry and like a mama bear, I jumped in to help. I have a scar on my wrist to remind me of that day. That day, I connected with my dog on a new level. I think Cherry knew that I had her back no matter what and I would risk myself for her.
But besides that moment, I have a connection with dogs. I understand their need for attention and I wish that people were like dogs;non-judgmental, loves everyone, and don't care about the stupid things in life.
Have you ever been driving and seen a dog in another car with his head stuck out the window? Tongue out, eyes wide, tail going a million miles an hour. Dogs are just excited to feel the wind in their face and to be with you. That's it. As long as they get to be with you, they are content.
That's how it's always been with Cherry. When I was about 12 when we were training her to be a seeing eye dog for the blind, we took her to Sea World one weekend. Cherry would have been about 1 or 2 years old. At the end of the day when the park was closing, people were swarming towards the exit. Pushing, shoving, trying to stay close to their loved ones. The only thing that I remember about that night was this- my mom had Cherry's leash in her left hand with Cherry walking on her left. I was on the other side of Cherry and felt overwhelmed by the growing crowds and could sense that Cherry felt the same. And then, I felt it; a small, wet nose touched my leg. I looked down and Cherry glanced up at me, never once breaking her steady, sure pace. Every minute or so Cherry would simply touch her nose to my leg, almost as a reassurance to me and to her. She was making sure I stayed close and letting me know that she was there as well. 9 years later, and I still remember our dependency on each other that day.
As long as I can remember, Cherry has slept on my bed with me. I don't usually like things or dogs touching me when I sleep (good luck with that, Matt!) but Cherry and I worked. You see, Cherry doesn't like to be messed with or touched too much either. So we worked out a system and we have both slept comfortably on my twin sized bed all these years. And even if for some reason she chooses not to sleep on my bed at night, I still sleep in the same diagonal position as if she were there. It's a natural feeling. When I left for 3 months and moved to Wisconsin, my sister said Cherry not once slept on my bed the whole time I was gone. And when I returned, she resumed her spot on my bed as if I hadn't been gone.
Now, my girl is an oldie. I call her Grandma now because of her gray hair and how she shuffles around the house from her weak back legs. I am nervous for the day that she can't leap up onto my bed but if I have to, I'll lift her myself. I would do anything for my odd, water-hating, allergy-stricken, sometimes cat-like, black lab.
Happy birthday, my little weirdo.
