You Got a Puppy!

So, Jon's friend Lisa had some family troubles, and came to spend Christmas with us. This meant her little dog Bailey came with us. I've been calling him Little Fox, since he is so sharp-eyed, quick, and fluffy.

Around mid-day on Christmas, due to restlessness and a desire to get some physical activity in on a day of eating, I took Little Fox for a walk. It wasn't a long one—just the Ted Edwards loop, which is a mile and about a quarter. It was tough for him in spots, because, while the snow is melting, there is still about eight inches or so on the ground, with drifts of over a foot and plow piles of two+ feet. This meant a lot of leaping, but since he can essentially hover, that's fine.

The walk was largely without incident—no accidents, no threatening strange dogs, etc.—but also without the pure joy of a W with Oz. What was striking was that we ran into one couple and one man who I'd regularly seen with Oz.

The couple's face lit up. "Look's like you've got a new friend," the husband called, and they grew more guarded when I told them it was just a friend's dog who was visiting. The guy who lives down the street was more direct, calling "You got a puppy!" I said no, it was just a visitor. He repeated, "You got a puppy," and came over to rumple Bailey's light and silky fur.

When I'd returned Emma the other day, Sandy had commented on how they'd seen me with my new puppy, and how happy they'd been. I blinked, and then asked if it was a brown and white dog. When she said yes, I realized it was Ruben. She was chatting about how she'd told Julie, and how happy they were, and…I finally got it straightened out.

I got it straightened out, but I'm again surprised at how happy people are for me, that I have another dog. It's like they see me as incomplete, or, more simply, unhappy without Oz. They are happy for me.

Greg