Another day. Warm in the morning. Seventy degrees, and then the clouds rolled in. Errands downtown: I stopped by the Pioneers Home and picked up signed books from Nancy Ricketts she didn’t want to come down. I went to the coffee shop for tea, Sotera seemed haggard and she didn’t seem happy to see anyone. I had my mask on but there was no summer banter and I left. I went to the dog park. Dot charged out and the people gathered up their dogs and left. The lady with the red dog put her dog in the car immediately saying, “She doesn’t like him.” Referring to Dot. What? I wanted to say… “All she wants to do is sniff his butt and bark at him. What the fuck?” But I didn’t. The other guy didn’t even look for his expensive blue whistler ball but left it out in the field bundled his hunting dogs up and left. He commented on Dot’s scar and said “You know some of these really ‘well bred’ dogs just keep getting sick.” Did he just call my dog a Nazi medical experiment? Now they both seem like nice people but I was upset by the treatment. So…. maybe I was just having a bad day. Bad mood. I sat in the dugout and read a letter from an old friend who was released from jail back in February but he forgot to write. He’s living with his family who I remember as being notoriously nutty. Maybe reading the letter didn’t help.
Dot’s totally ignoring me. now too. I have been trying to keep her wound clean until Jan found the “fun” way with the hose. Now Dot doesn’t even look at me. She won’t come. She won’t sit for me. I just don’t exist. Jan doesn’t like me putting a leash on her because of the wound and so we haven’t done training so Dot now just does whatever the fuck she wants. Come on people! Dogs? What’s happening here! Am I losing my grip?!! I’m going to have to spoil both Jan and Dot big time. Maybe it’s time for a love offensive?
Take presents to the coffee shop people. Treats for the Dog Park folks. Chocolates for the bookstore ladies. An Art Book for Norm? A bottle of Champagne for the musician buddies? Cards with poems for my friends who are working at their desks all day, with maybe a gift certificate?
This is my usual strategy for a bad day. Presents. It almost always perks me up.
But what for Dot? She is being such a snot, of course she has been under the weather. A fun walk since the dog park was a bust, maybe a walk to the store and buy a juicy bone? Good for her teeth and her jaw. Then play with the hose.
For Jan? Make something healthy for dinner and then spoil her with a dessert? Read to her tonight until she goes to bed? I don’t know. I’ll figure something.
See… I’m already feeling better. Dot just came in and looked around and walked out. I said hello to her and she paused before leaving to look at me. At least she didn’t pee on my shoes.
Somewhere in the field
on a windy afternoon
hides the lost blue ball.
jhs
Here is a recording of me talking about Yi-Fu Tuan, the contemporary Human Geographer, I also read a section from his book, “Dear Colleagues.” He is very thought provoking.
