Sad Dog, Happy Dog − 12 July, 2008
This week and especially today my poor dog showed signs of depression of a doggy sort. After about six weeks of daily hikes, being alone all day and getting no hikes at night was stressing her out. I noticed early in the week that she had licked a patch on her hindquarters bare. Just this morning I noticed another bare patch on one of her legs.
Whenever I wasn’t in my home office dictating my next story today, she gave me sad looks. I knew exactly what they meant. It had been raining all morning. It was supposed to rain all day. A rainy day is a great day for writing.
But lo and behold, the sun came out, and it was time for me to take a break. My default plan was to go to the gym. But seeing the sunshine and the sad eyes changed my mind. I wanted to hike too. We are booked tomorrow, so today was my last chance.
Even after I donned my hiking gear, packed my hiking pack, put on my hiking shoes, grabbed the leash, and was standing by the door, she still didn’t believe it was true. I had to call her over, to invite her on this hike, the hike she had been dying for all week.
We just got home. Just from the way she bounded from the backseat of the car out onto the sidewalk, I knew I had a happy dog on my hands. I was a happy hiker and writer too. I thought of quite a bit of dialogue and some good scenes for my story during the hike. As soon as I post this, I’m going to make some notes so I don’t forget while we watch “Hancock” at the movies.
