My sister wore glasses from a young age. I had better than 20/20 vision. Like younger siblings everywhere, I envied the things my sister had. Her pink bath towel was infinitely superior to my blue one. But it was the superpower conferred by her glasses that I especially wanted. By removing them, she told me, … Continue reading If I Can’t See You, You Can’t See Me
Category: life
A Fine Old Dog
…is like a fine old wine. Mellowing and becoming more complex with age. Our dogs are aging. Many of my friends have kids the same age as mine. We met through playgroups, at the park, at the schools our kids attended. We invited dogs to join our families at a similar point too. The kids … Continue reading A Fine Old Dog
In My Own Voice #37: The Two-Bed Solution
As much as I love my family, and trust me, I do, they can be Shockingly obtuse sometimes. Take the beds. This past year they bought me two, count them, two beds! Of course, I was fine in their beds, but they discouraged it. Go figure. The first bed went upstairs, where they sleep. Well … Continue reading In My Own Voice #37: The Two-Bed Solution
The Girl Next Door
There’s a courtship going on under my nose and I was none the wiser. Pettigrew, like most dogs, likes to poke his nose out the door and sample the weather. Depending on what he learns from that preliminary sniff he either saunters out on to the porch and settles down or, he turns tail and … Continue reading The Girl Next Door
When “Thank You” Isn’t Enough
Type “Xtreme” into a search engine and you pull up all sorts of things for which there are amped up versions: sports, pizza, auto detailing, etc. What I’m pondering is Xtreme thank yous: when the nature of the gift or the service rendered doesn’t seem to be appropriately or adequately acknowledged by a simple thank … Continue reading When “Thank You” Isn’t Enough
Separation Anxiety
Pandemic pups are struggling. Originally adopted to brighten the lives of people isolating in their homes as they followed social distancing guidelines and didn’t see friends, family, or co-workers, the pups are now finding it’s hard to be alone as their families resume their former activities. Since I don't know anyone with a pandemic puppy, … Continue reading Separation Anxiety
In My Own Voice #36: The Fake Out
These hot muggy days really drag me down. No matter when we go out, the weather is dreary. The Woman is usually amenable to cutting our walks short if I’m just not up for it, but sometimes she resists. On those dreadful occasions, instead of following my lead when I turn, she forcibly drags my … Continue reading In My Own Voice #36: The Fake Out
Goodnight, Sweet Dreams
Pettigrew has a firm sense of bedtime. Bedtime is, perforce, different than nap time. Nap time is a variable entity. Nap time happens whenever, wherever. It’s fluid. Nap time. The need for a nap could strike after breakfast, in the early afternoon, or the late afternoon. A delightful nap can be enjoyed under the dining … Continue reading Goodnight, Sweet Dreams
In My Own Voice #35: The Worst Night of My Life
It started, as these things often do, with something so deceptively wonderful that I was completely blindsided when everything went south. Typically, the Woman and I have a bit of a back and forth around when to eat dinner. Invariably, I have to remind her not once, not twice, but three or more times before … Continue reading In My Own Voice #35: The Worst Night of My Life
A Senior Moment
On a lovely evening sitting around the firepit with dear friends we found ourselves confronting some sobering truths about the future. We met when we were one-child families and have stayed friends as each of our families have grown to include a second child and, inevitably, a dog. In my friends’ cases, make that two … Continue reading A Senior Moment
Ruth Polk 