Our quiet little Halloween was a success–as you can see! (Photos below) We got scads of Trick-Or-Treaters, many of whom were over the age of 10. At my house, that means you sing for your candy! And did they sing. We were treated to an impromptu Jazz number in Scat and some fairly enthusiastic Pop songs. Kids are such good sports. We could hear their parents laughing down on the street as their kids performed for their loot! All of them promised to come back next year with real material and one girl exclaimed, “I’m never going to forget this, it was so much fun! This is the best house, I’ll be back next year!” Of course, I also reward them for being such good eggs! We were excited to get anyone at all–considering the weather. I suspect the sub freezing temperatures sent most of the kids off to the big Monster Bash at the fair grounds. And who can blame them? Why trick-or-treat in the cold when you can do it without frostbite. So, to those of you who risked pneumonia, we LOVED you… and we’ll see you next year!
And dinner was simply wonderful. We feasted on soup and salad and homemade bread and wine and laughter. Lots of laughter! It’s good to spend the evening with such positive people. Iris came bearing gifts for me—homemade jam wrapped in a silk scarf dyed this lovely shade of berry. She hand makes the dye and the color in mine was made from insects! How cool is that?
Boy Wonder and I took a break during our Trick-Or-Treating to sip yummy cider and Mexican Hot Chocolate. As we waited for IZ to join we had a conversation about integrity, good communication, and choosing to focus on the positive instead of the negative. By the end of the evening, as we walked Sophie one last time he told me, “Mom, this worked out to be the best Halloween ever.”
And you know what… he’s right. Our day did not go where we expected—but this family is alive, surrounded by good friends, and we choose to see the beauty of this universe!
So–to all you ghoulies out there—We will see you next year. Be safe, not just tonight but every night. And know that we are holding good thoughts for you: all you princes, wizards, hobos and ghouls.
“She can sit up and beg, and she can give her paw — I don’t say that she will, but she can.”
— Dorothy Parker
Sophie is smart. Really smart. Her previous owners mentioned that. We took them at their word and it seemed like a good sign. We like smart people–we will like a smart dog! If you tell Sophie to “Go to Bed” off she trots to Boy Wonder’s room and snuggles into her blanket–tail thumping to the beat of her own drum. Happiness is her tune. She just sings! She sits when told, walks beautifully on a leash, comes when called (for the most part) doesn’t take a treat from your hand until you give the “take” command. Yep–she’s a tribute to her breed. Well mannered and lovely, even tempered, rarely growls, is a contributing member of society.
Or she would be if she’d only pee.
Did I mention that Sophie is smart? But, in addition to be really smart–Sophie is equally stubborn. This little trait her former owners neglected to mention. And because lying by omission wasn’t enough, they thew in the blatant untruth that Sophie was potty trained*. I’m here to tell you–what Sophie is, is stubborn. There is a difference. Not peeing inside for 36 hours is not the same as not peeing for 36 hours AT ALL. Sophie, who does not like the rain or grass or anything nature based when it comes to eliminating chooses to not go if it means meeting that nature. Instead, she is choosing to HOLD IT. And hold it. And hold it.
Now, every training manual regarding these issues suggests that I take my dog outside at regular intervals to commune with nature–when I see her doing it right, to praise her as if she is divine. However, sage advice it may be, it assumes my dog will ever GO outside. And Sophie? She’s too smart for that. She figures she can out-wait me. Every twenty minutes for the past 36 hours she has stood in the rain and not peed. Not a drop. The heavens have opened up and dumped down precipitation in buckets and still this dog will not take the hint.
Because Sophie understands that Free Will only applies to her–that ultimately, I have no sovereignty over her bladder. Of course, that little fact doesn’t stop my assailing the Universe every twenty minutes as I stand in the rain, “Please God, make this dog Pee.”
*If this was all they lied about, it could be forgiven–however, the list goes on and on. I can tolerate slackers, ingrates, and generally boorishly behaved individuals—however, liars really push me over the edge.
I didn’t mean for it to happen. Ok, well, I did a little. However, despite my intentions there seems to be some form of Kismet in play. Sometimes the Universe steps in an unites souls that were destined for each other. And when it does, who should question such serendipity?
I never thought I’d fall in love so quickly, especially without ever having met…but you know, the Internet is weird like that. And you can just tell. Can’t you? When a good soul is staring back at you, no matter the distance?
And can’t you just tell when it was meant to be? Then, when you think it might not happen, the Universe steps in again and paves a road so silken you can’t help but remove your shoes and run barefoot–soaking up all the glorious details into your soles.
