A Dog Epiphany
One canine’s mission to spread joy throughout the land
So much all at once. Sometimes it feels like it’s too much to bear. Especially all alone. The lack of physical intimacy has become unbearable. Not a hug, or a touch of the hand, or a squeeze of the arm, or even an accidental brush up against someone while standing in the grocery line. And even worse, no wet dog noses sniffing my palm, no puppy kisses, and no petting dog butts.
I cannot take it anymore. I must, must, must get a dog. I’ve been avoiding it for three and a half years, and I can’t hold out any longer.
Is it true that I’ve been “avoiding” adopting another dog?
Yes and no. I love dogs. I am a self-proclaimed dog freak. No doubt about it. When I see a dog, I tend to scream real loud, “DOG, DOG, DOG!!!” I count them while driving from one place to the next, I scour the streets for them as I take my daily walk,…I even change directions based on dog-density, and I befriend people with dogs. I grew up with a dog in the house and finally adopted a dog of my own in 2001. Just mine, all mine, Little Miss Eppy-Dog turned out to be the love of my life. She saw me through boyfriends and break-ups, bad jobs and multiple midlife crises, friends and foes, and moves from Chicago to Columbus to Seattle. I made up songs about her and sang as we walked — ridiculous, silly, funny, happy songs. We even taught them to her friends… kids, moms, dads and doggy beaus.
She wooed children like she was born to the task, won over kids from other countries who’d never known a dog in their lives, and broke down the defenses of hard-working people who just wanted to park their car, go home and eat dinner. They’d see her standing there in that stubborn pit-like stance as they slammed the car door and looked at me like “What? What did I do?” “Oh, sorry! You’re fine” I’d say, “she just wants you to pet her.” With 75 pounds on her side, dragging her away was not an option.
Kids would knock on my door and ask “Can Eppy come out to play?” “You do know we’re a tag team, right?” I’d ask. “It’s OK. You can play too!” Everyone loved Eppy. She left you no choice. I nicknamed her “Joy-Spreader” because she instilled joy in every moment of life. Wherever she went, joy wafted in the air behind her.
