It was rainy and cold yesterday morning, but the only day this week forecast to be so unpleasant. Nonetheless, as my sister Wendy always says, there are no cold days, just underdressed people....I dressed in several layers and ventured out with Shiny Susy dog. We had a mission other than exhausting this young, exuberant puppy. I was going to try to maintain her joie d'vivre while keeping my arm socket intact and teaching her to 'heel'. For non-dog people, that means walking a dog on a slack leash who walks at your heel. My brother usually walks her in a huge field off leash, and he is also a big guy. He probably has not the slightest idea how quickly a small person's shoulder can be dislocated by an energetic dog who thinks a leash is a tow rope.
I let her get her wiggles out for the first mile, and then I began our training. Each time she pulled ahead of me, I swirled around letting my hip pull the leash in the opposite direction and said, "Heel." We swirled so much for the next hour that I was dizzy. At first, Shiny Susie just thought this was another game. But she is as smart as she is shiny, and by the end of the walk, when I said, "Heel", she dropped back to my left heel with a slack leash. If I do this every day I am here, she will be perfect. And God willing, my shoulder joint will remain intact.
We saw many beautiful sights along the way. The rain stopped. I discovered little painted stones all along my journey with cheery messages.
Not only were there happy little stones planted throughout the villages like blessings along the path to God but the scenery was spectacular. This village is so charming, and helped by the fact that it is nestled along the Susquehanna River. That river flooded a few years ago and nearly destroyed the town. But the residents bailed out the water from their city, and the beauty outweighs the struggle they endured.
When I got back, it was almost time to make Anthony lunch. He works during the week, and I pack him a lunch. However, over the weekend, he is home so I have the opportunity to let my creative juices flow. Anthony is one of the most undemanding, placid, happy, and quiet individuals you will ever meet. He is as self entertaining and complacent as Shiny Susy is not. So I love making Anthony smile because if anyone deserves joy, Anthony does.. Lunch made him smile.
I realized as I was writing this blog that my two charges this week are opposite in many ways. Susy licks my face every chance she gets. Praise God, Anthony does not. Susy is bursting with energy and wants me to entertain her every second of her existence. Anthony likes to recline on the couch and read a cooking magazine while watching TV, or sit quietly in his room listening to music. Susy will not leave my side; she is on my heel every step I take (except on walks when I have to teach her to 'heel' but her inclination is to dart after every smell, sight, and sound.) Anthony disappears to his room and enjoys meals with me, but otherwise, he is quite content to be alone.
I love them both. How they approach life is very different. However, their response was identical when their parents called from Europe and I put those beloved voices on speaker phone. Susy wagged her tail vigorously and Anthony beamed.
So I pet Susy and play with Susy all day long. I make Anthony fun lunches and kiss him goodnight. I want to be sure both feel loved since that is one
thing they mutually desire.
The Bible says anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By showing love, we are showing God.
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