When the dog larns you good

I went on a walk with the dogs the other day and I was struck by how focused my dog can be on the ball and how distracted he can be when it’s not around. For better or worse he’s a chaser. A ball, frisbee, people, birds, cars, tractors, rabbits, lizards, doesn’t matter what it is, if it moves he’s after it. Here’s the thing, except for the toys, I don’t think he’d know what to do if he ever actually caught anything. Case in point, a couple days ago a bird was on the ground and he found it and just stared at it puzzled, not sure what to do next. Now my parents’ dog, she knew exactly what to do with a bird that can’t escape because she is a hunter. Patiently she’ll wait near gopher hole holes, wind rippling her fur muscles tense just waiting for a chance to pounce.  

Here’s the question, how often am I like my dog, losing focus on what I’m entrusted to do and instead constantly running from one fleeting thought or conversation to the next? And on the other hand, how often am I like my parents’ dog, biding my time just waiting to pounce? Do I only listen when there’s a treat or is the Voice and the commands so ingrained I respond to their prompting even if it’s spoken in a whisper? 

Taking this class, having discussions in the midst of some rather bizarre circumstances has shown me how easy it can be to lose focus, like my dog. It’s also taught me how easy it can be to focus on the wrong thing, like my parents’ dog. (Figuratively the wrong thing. I’m sure she’d tell you fresh food is not the wrong focus for a dog.)

When it Rains it Pours

Puddles, clouds, and hope.

Since everyone is housebound and bored, I figured I should dust the old blog off. After a coughing attack by the layer of dust, and repeated reassurances that “I don’t have Corona Virus!” to my family, I sit before you excited and eager to see how many posts I will actually create in the upcoming weeks. (Smart money would be on not a lot.)

The original purpose of this blog was to share my trip to Europe with my family and friends stateside. Almost 10 years later the focus has shifted to everyday life events and random musings that pop into my head. Although the content has changed, the concept that it’s for friends who don’t live near me has remained. As most of us are stuck at home, looking for things to do and human connection, I figured it was time to throw my pennies in the fountain and see what emerges.

Which brings us to todays topic, one we have pondered for a couple weeks now in CA, what the heck is happening? I’m not just talking about being at home on lockdown, I’m talking about the weather. It’s April and it’s raining! Not just a single day of rain, but days and days with thunderstorms and occasional hail. Enough rain to create puddles in the yard! 

Wild poppies are having a great year!

But with the rain comes green. The rye, the flowers, the grass and the weeds. Growing up a farmer’s daughter late rains were always appreciated and dreaded. Rain does not discriminate which plants get life, so while the sweet potatoes benefited from the moisture, so too did my mortal enemies, mustered, pigweed, nightshade, puncture vines, nut grass, crab grass, that stupid succulent, and sting weed. 

Rain sustains life, and right now it makes it easier for everyone to stay home. As the days get warmer, I suspect staying in is going to become harder and harder but that is a worry for tomorrow. (Or Saturday if the weather doesn’t change again.) And who knows, maybe like the rain this lockdown holds some kind of bizarre, hidden, silver lining. As the dog demonstrates daily, one can always hope.