Meet me on 70th?
Sounds good, I text back.
My friend and I — with two more joining us — are taking her Spaniels out to Central Park for the day. When we meet, I find that she has also brought a blanket and a bottle of wine.
Oh. It’s going to be that kind of day.
Her dogs get excited to see me, get angry at pigeons, get curious about other dogs. One barks at children. The other doesn’t like being ignored. Both tug at the leash.
This is her youngest. His name is Buddy.
As soon as I see her, dogs swirling around her legs, I practically beg to hold a leash, so desperately wanting to feel what it is like to have a dog again, just for a little while.
I happily walk the older dog while she walks the younger. We get to the park, claim a spot, and ponder whether or not it’s in bad form to open the bottle of wine before our friends show up.
We decide to wait.
While waiting, we get impatient and open the bottle of wine.
Well.
Soon everyone arrives. Shortly thereafter, the wine is gone.
Buddy amidst the chaos.*
*Photo from Carol
I find myself talking incessantly about my family’s former dogs. I blame the canine visual reminders all over the park.
This little guy was also at the park. His name is Bacon.
Both my childhood dogs died a few years ago. It was sad, but not as sad as I thought it would be. Though, I end up missing them more than I thought I would be.
This one was harder to photograph because she didn't like being in front of the lens. Her name is Maxie.
Back around that time, people would freely ask me if I was getting another dog. I never understood that line of thought and the question sounded discordant to me every time — like an incongruous piece of dialogue jammed into my conversation. No, I would not be getting to know a new dog while processing my sense of loss. That would be too much emotional work at once. I am a one-feeling-at-a-time type of girl.
So I haven’t had any other pets. Not since Meeko died a little less than a year after Rocky.
Now that it’s been a few years, though, more and more, I feel the tug of desire. Seeing happy dogs, stupid dogs, bossy dogs, dogs that are wearing ridiculous clothes — all make me want a dog again. Walking my friend’s dog over the weekend confirmed it for me.
When we move back to California, my boyfriend and I will certainly be getting a dog.
We already have a name picked out.
yay blogger!! :) Cute pics! They look soo cute! You should def get a dog! Maybe you me & Erynn can share 1 dog. LOL. JK. That would be sad.
Split custody agreement: M-T you get the dog, W-Th Erynn, F-S me, Sunday rotating shifts every three hours. ;)
fellow dog lover!! you know you’re a real dog lover when you insist on walking a pair of crazy, misbehaving pups!! :)
btw, what name did you pick out? :)
I was having so much fun, thanks for letting me pretend to be a dog owner again! I’m kind of embarrassed about the name lol. I told Marc he could name the dog to try and guarantee/force a connection between the dog and him since he isn’t really a dog person. He chose a super nerdy name… -_-
I’m a cat person who currently has two dogs. Two big, stinky, constantly humping dogs.
Did I mention I’m a cat person? I used to be a dog person when I was 12, but something happened. Even so, dogs love me. In fact, right now, there’s a strange dog sitting next to me staring for no good reason.
I don’t even have any food.
I actually wrote this post a couple years ago when Noah and I were dogsitting for a friend of ours in Buffalo.
http://thefutureisred.typepad.com/onedayatatime/2008/10/i-am-a-dogwalking-sham.html
I got some hate mail on that one. Luckily, I’m more like a cat in that sense, and don’t care.
Haha your post had me rolling, it’s hilarious (not to mention, very accurate)! I’ve thought about maybe getting a cat here and there before (my roommates in Taiwan had two that were fantastic), but, I don’t know, it’s never held as strong an appeal for me as having a dog. I’m probably too needy for a cat ha.
Wait a minute, I definitely cannot have a dog in NYC, even just 2 days a week. I’d have to hold it out our window to go to the bathroom; there’s no way I’m walking up and down the stairs for potty times. Let’s just go on more picnics with Sally’s dogs and enoy them commitment-free! ;)
Two words, Erynn: doggy diaper. LOL