Contrary to popular belief, quiet is not always conducive to sleep. When my parents were first married, my mother got in the habit of falling asleep to the sound of the tv turned low whenever my dad was working late. It kept her company in the empty apartment. Pettigrew curled up on his bed that … Continue reading It’s Too Quiet to Sleep
Category: life
In My Own Voice #39: I’ve Got My Eyes on You
I’m not one those dogs that feels a compulsion to herd people, constantly circling and nudging legs to keep my group together. But I do like to have a big-picture sense of where everyone is. My family is challenging me right now and I don’t appreciate it. For example, the youngest one disappeared. Poof. One … Continue reading In My Own Voice #39: I’ve Got My Eyes on You
Forbidden Fruit Tempts Every Time
Why is it that when something is off limits it is so alluring? My younger son has left to start his freshman year at college. He is the only one in the family for whom Pettigrew reliably sits when asked. Their relationship is clear and Pettigrew acknowledges that he is not the alpha. But now, … Continue reading Forbidden Fruit Tempts Every Time
If I Can’t See You, You Can’t See Me
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
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
Ruth Polk 