About a dog

This is a short story that I just finally had to write about. Not my usual fare but here goes.

When I was a child I loved Snoopy (the cartoon beagle). I don’t mean just plain old childhood love, I mean the real deal. I had the sheets, the pajamas, clothes, stuffed toys, watched every cartoon on every holiday religiously (back before we had Beta Max and dvd’s) as it was so very special. Just that one viewing a year. Not over and over again like kids nowadays. I loved dogs and I loved snoopy!!! My gravitar when I attempted to start my blog was of course, Snoopy. My father was a hunter and as a child I was not allowed to play with the beagle or other hunting dogs, lest they be deemed not hunting worthy and a many a dog did not come home from his trips. Not until I was older did I realize where these dogs went to, and that makes me sad for them. But I had snoopy. Every year for holidays and my birthday I received in the mail a beautiful snoopy card signed by who else, but Snoopy of course. These cards were the first ones opened and I would get the biggest smile. Every year I got one, until the day I didn’t . It was my birthday and I was going into the teen years. I trekked to the door to get the mail but alas, no card. I was upset. What had I done to not deserve my card? My grandmother had passed away that spring and with a hint from my mother, I realized that all those years, it was my grandmother sending them, and now she was gone. I would get no more cards. SIGH. And then a wonderful blogger found me and every few days sends me a cute snoopy picture. They make me smile and brought back to me this tale that I thought I would share with you. I am truly blessed. People come into your life for a reason and quirky things happen to make a day brighter, universal nudges I like to call them.

I still have one card saved from Easter. The last holiday before my birthday. I think I will dig it out and touch those penned wishes with a fondness today, knowing that beautiful things happen and friends are truly a blessing and I thank you for listening to my ramble about a dog. And a hearty thanks to my pal Woodstock.

Free smiles (Pavlov)

I see the faces

grey and gloomy

like a dark noir Hollywood movie

sinister plots

and angry souls

I stop to look in the mirror

Don’t want to become

silent faced puppets

falling into the grinder

of another sullen day,

FREE smiles I say.

Give one away maybe two or ten,

Because it doesn’t matter when

but I do believe now is a good time to start.

just send it from the heart,

from me to you

I will start the trend

all done, repeat

lets begin again.

The people are responding

a smile in return

there goes the bell, break time,

wow would you look at that,

Everywhere I see smiles looking back at me.

Now I can smile too, see what a little nudge

and a bell can do?

Anywhere

Close your eyes, breathe slow and deep.

Come, take my hand

lets go, quickly now…

before they find us.

The dream thieves lurk

trying to empty our coffers.

But we can go anywhere

be anything.

Close your eyes

picture yourself there,

on a mountain

or watching a splendid sun rise

emerging from the clouds

Fire above the ocean,

can you see it yet?

I feel my toes in the sand

I wiggle them one at a time, nudging a shell with my pinkie toe,

and look over there

dolphins moving in sync,

ah these magnificent sights,

a breakfast of juice and toast and aromatic cheeses

that meld with the scent of rich dark coffee.

Can you smell that? Oh it is just so good.

Where did you go, when you closed your eyes?

Where was your happy place ?

Who was there with you?

I went to the beach, then to everywhere my soul desired

a morning daydream

to make me smile.

 

photo taken while in Puerto Rico on a Friday morning a few months ago.