Life’s a Bitch
Chasing Tail – As I write this, out of the corner of my eye I can see our neighbor’s dog, Mikmik, trying to catch his tail. He’s making tight, frantic little circles, nearly spinning off his axis, just to get a taste of that which he thinks he simply MUST have. The very elusiveness of his tail is what makes him so adamant about capturing it. Mikmik is cute, but a little dim. Okay, he’s the doggie equivalent of a box of rocks when it comes to intellect, but all of us in the neighborhood love him. Of COURSE, he’s never going to catch his tail. And if by some miracle he DID, he’d only end up hurting himself by enthusiastically chomping down on it. You can’t tell him that, though. He’s on a quest. And he’s stupid. Lovable, but stupid.
Life Lesson – Lots of energy poured into lots of futile activities usually results in nothing but lots of frustration. And if DO attain your goal, chance are good it’s going to be painful in one way or another. So relax. Grab some chocolate. Find a good book and a comfortable chair. Take a nap. Believe me, a piece of tail isn’t worth so much angst. Thinking it is is just…well…stupid.
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The Prince and the Pee – Jordan (a Japanese spitz of a pal) has at least one redeeming quality. He’s cute. You look at this dog and you see a small bundle of snow white dog full of energy that is endearing – for all of five minutes. Stick around longer than that, and you’ll see other stuff that’s not quite so endearing. Like puddles. The dog is quite a wetter. It doesn’t matter when and where as long as he release himself. A sofa will do. Or a chair. His own sleeping mat. Even our feet. There’s not even pea on the planet big enough to disturb the sleep of this prince. After one of her “episodes”, Jordan will wake, move to another spot, and promptly fall back to sleep. No remorse. No restitution. He is who He is, and he does what he will. As with Mikmik, we love Jordan (btw this spritz parents belonged to us, Jordan’s one of their offsprings). But my pal learned (especially her mom) that it’s up to them to carry a towel or 12 with them and never sit without first checking for wet spots.
Life Lesson – We all have times when we unintentionally mess up. No one likes the wet spots in life, but they happen. You goofed. You know it. They know it. With a swish of your tail and a nod of acknowledgement and apology for wrongs committed, fix what can be fixed with the towel of your good intentions. Then move on to another life moment and don’t look back. Don’t let useless regret become the pea that keeps you from trying again.
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Discriminating Taste – Jag (short for “Jaguar”) is another spitz we’ve given to another family friend. He became the Baby of the family. His head is as big and as solid as a cement block, his body resembles a small tank, and his heart is as soft as a marshmallow. He exudes charm and innocence, and people constantly coo over him. He’s got them all fooled. Beneath his dopey grin is the heart and soul of a connoisseur. Jag is responsible for eating my mom’s kumare’s best underwear, their digital camera, two leather wallets, every pair of genuine leather shoes the kids’ own, and the occasional steak that he pulls off the kitchen counter. But he WON’T eat the 23-year-old maternity panties of my mom’s friend (don’t ask why she still have them; that’ll be another blog entry.). He also chomped their authentic vinyl wallet, any of their buy-one-get-one-free shoes from Divisoria, or the broccoli that was being served with the steak. Jag has his standards, and they won’t be compromised.
Life Lesson – When you’re cute, you can take anything you want and be safe from recrimination. Wait. That may be true, but it’s not the IMPORTANT lesson. The IMPORTANT lesson is that in a world filled with delectable choices, occasionally indulging your taste for quality will usually bring a great deal of satisfaction, if not downright happiness. Go to the four star restaurant rather than McDonalds. Read a piece of literature and let the Purple Passion novel wait for another time. Wear the sexy undies instead of waiting for the “right” occasion. Buy the perfume instead of eternally rubbing your wrist over the sample in Vogue magazine. Go visit your friend instead of picking up the phone. Indulge yourself now and then without regret or harm to others and life will be just a little sweeter.
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Always Leave Them Wanting More – Layka was the matriarch of the family. She was 12 years old, and became a part of our family before we started naming dogs after Japayuki’s aliases. When Layka was not going to be with us for very much longer. Her joints are worn out and cause her pain. She doesn’t see well anymore, and she’s deaf. The cycle of life is drawing to a close for this beloved creature of our heart. She’s given us untold moments of joy and love over the course of her life, and I’d like to think that we’ve given her the same. When Layka finally left us we mourned sincerely and deeply.
Life Lesson – Endings are as inevitable as beginnings. Poets, song writers, philosophers – they’ve all admonished us to live a life that leaves something behind when it’s completed. That something may simply be a smile that warms someone’s heart at the memory of you. But make no mistake; we all leave SOMETHING. We are not islands of solitary existence, but are parts of a whole. More than we care to admit, I think, we have the ability to choose what we leave behind. Choose now. Choose well.
