Tuesday, January 22, 2013

She Loves That Wild Man


Blogging Friends.... Sorry for posting only once last week!! It was not intentional. My excuse? I have been insanely busy of late!! Besides taking up my still Top Secret quest--more on that later!!--I am fighting a head cold!! I feel so out of it--as though I've been drugged--despite never having swallowed any over-the-counter medications!! Yuck. I am way overdue for a story, and, they have been freely accumulating this month like some soft, white snowfall!! So!! Here goes....

Hope. To the pessimist, with his glass half empty, this is a vacant, meaningless word. Correct? But, to the optimist, with her glass half full, the word "hope" springs forth endless possibilities!! Well!! Experts say that people are either one extreme, or the other. You cannot be both. But, I tend to disagree. Why? Because, according to my sister, I am "a pessimistic optimist". Isn't that an oxymoron? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I am a mix between both pessimist and optimist. An unwanted shortcoming, which, we are working on. Yes, we. Because, apparently, when someone is as flawed as me, she needs a ton of support. Am I going somewhere with this? Or should I just take a "sick day" and sleep my hours away? No, I am good, I am good. I'm noshing on potato chips, sipping 7-Up, my system is loaded with herbs, plus "brain juices" are flowing!! What more do I need? This is only a head cold. God will heal me!! Now. To the story. Rose is a full-fledged optimist. Forever hopeful, that girl!! Not because she is a canine. No. I knew this miniature Dachshund once--named Ivy--who was seemingly a pessimist. Her muzzle prematurely graying, everything terrified Ivy. Poor girl. But my baby? Whenever food is concerned--even if it's hazardous to her health--Rose bounds toward our kitchen, anticipating a snack!! Forever hopeful!! We own this Audubon Society singing bird clock. Every hour, our ears hear a different feathered creature. Occasionally, when three 'o'clock "chirps", Rose opens her deep colossal brown eyes, looks at me from my bed, and telepathically asks: "Aren't we gonna walk, Mama?" Forever hopeful!! When we are leaving for a hike, and she is invited, Rose develops Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. That's right. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. My little girl bounces off our walls like some tennis ball, then bays happily on the top of her vocal chords. Forever hopeful!! The other day, on a brisk January morning, still frozen patches of snow glued to our grass, Rose was doing her business. As usual!! In order to keep my raccoon scat-rolling, cat poop-ingesting hound out of trouble, I followed closely behind, shivering, and groggy from this head cold. Rose had finished her duties. I was ready to step back inside. Rose would follow suit.... Right? Wrong!! Because--as usual--Rose and I were not on the same page!! She couldn't have cared less about our freezing cold temperatures. Rose was looking--searching--for someone. Our next door neighbors' black and white St. Bernard/Border Collie cross, Zeke!! Rose seemed optimistic that she would find him in his backyard!! Forever hopeful!! She poked her ebony nostrils through Zeke's fence. Whined softly for him. Balanced her front legs against Zeke's fence. She walked around our shed toward a broken down part of his fence. But, Zeke was nowhere to be found!! Or, so I thought.... Suddenly, there was Zeke, running out his backdoor!! Beside herself, Rose whined, and bayed a few times!! Then--satisfied at last--she made a beeline toward our sliding glass back door!! She loves that excessive barking, high-energy wild man!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 comments:

Ziggy Stardust said...

I am the eternal optimist and my husband the pessimist. Together we make it through. Sashy is always hopeful as well. She never gives up hope for a treat or a walk or her favorite ear scratch. She is my dog.I prefer to remain hopeful.

Anne and Sasha

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

We're optimists, too. There's always something good, just around the corner.

XXXOOo Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Sketching with Dogs said...

I think most people are a little pessimistic and optimistic at the same time but for the optimistic, they can usually see a brightside at the end of any bad time where the pessimists can't.
We can all learn from dogs who, no matter how bad the situation will always anticipate good times ahead. They are wonderful!
Lynne x

Unknown said...

Forever hopeful, we like that. I scream my head off every morning when we go to the park. It starts as soon as the back door is locked and all the way up the road. In winter when boots need putting on etc it can be a whole 10 minutes plus. I get so excited. Drives peeps nuts. I am forever hopeful for a happy hunt. Good on Rose. Hope you are better soon. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly

Mary Lou said...

Anne and Sasha....
"I prefer to remain hopeful.". Good for you!! And "hope", might I add, is one of my very favorite words!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Daisy, Bella & Roxy....
Thank-you for the comment!!
"We're optimists, too. There's always something good, just around the corner.". That is so true!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Lynne....
Thank-you for the comment!!
"I think most people are a little pessimistic and optimistic at the same time but for the optimistic, they can usually see a brightside at the end of any bad time where the pessimists can't.". Good, so I am not some freak? Hee, hee, hee.... ;-}
"We can all learn from dogs who, no matter how bad the situation will always anticipate good times ahead. They are wonderful!"!! Absolutely!! No doubt about that!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Molly....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I might be feeling a bit better today. Thank-you, Friend!! ;op

Soggibottom said...

freya rose Blossom will follow anyone, she is everyone's friend :-) Unlike her ma :-) Who often climbs on a soap box and then often regrets it :-) Good that soap box is in reach because Freya is a helping paw :-)
xxx

Mary Lou said...

Freya Rose Blossom....
Thank-you for the comment!! I truly appreciate it!! And thank-you for Following my Blog, as well!! Number 36!! ;op

Remington said...

Oh to be an optimist is the way to be....things are so much better that way....

Mary Lou said...

Remington....
Thank-you for the comment!!
"Oh to be an optimist is the way to be....things are so much better that way....". Were you singing that? Hee, hee, hee.... ;)
Oh. And I concur!! ;op

troutbirder said...

Baron the GSD is the optimist. He is always ready to go and seek new adventures around every corner. We hike a lot. I follow him....:)

Mary Lou said...

troutbirder....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Oh, and Baron is beautiful!! I like German Shepherds. And their mixes.... ;op

Maxmom said...

Hi there Raelyn,
Firstly, I hope you are feeling a lots better today...and also that you have a wonderful "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" on the 25th. Here's wishing you many more as you ponder your 'secret quest' :)
Your love for little Rose is tender and touching. It's amazing how much we can learn from our dogs. To me, the most amazing lesson that dogs teach us is not really 'hope', pessimism or optimism, but rather...to 'LIVE IN THE MOMENT'. Their sheer joy at celebrating the present is something we can all use. Too much energy is often spent of what 'should be' or 'wasn't', and in the end we forget to smell the roses. But your ideas are thought-provoking...keep writing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! ...and to your beautifully unique, mystery dog.
With love
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mary Lou said...

MAXMOM....
Thank-you for the comment!! I truly appreciated it!! ;)
And, thank-you for the Happy Birthday wish!! ;-D
I am better!! I'm no longer a "druggie" without any medications!! Hee, hee, hee.... ;-}
My "Top Secret Quest" shall be revealed.... Soon.... It just needs a little more time!! Apparently.... ;->
"It's amazing how much we can learn from our dogs. To me, the most amazing lesson that dogs teach us is not really 'hope', pessimism or optimism, but rather...to 'LIVE IN THE MOMENT'. Their sheer joy at celebrating the present is something we can all use.". Very good!! ;-D
"Too much energy is often spent of what 'should be' or 'wasn't', and in the end we forget to smell the roses.". I needed to hear that!! Thank-you!! ;)
I am now two chapters into "Maxdog".... And I'm loving it!! ;-D