The Weekly Cute

Some might think it rather ridiculous that one's better years could be spent with a dog were it not so often the case. I realize that I do not have any photos of my dog. Perhaps this is a good thing as I might occasionally slip into that proud-papa syndrome and start showing off puppy photos to anyone who will look. Still, I need to make a point of scanning some childhood photos on one of my next visits home (I have kept this in mind for years and always forget). It was hard to find an image that seems close enough to what our Essie looked like, though that second one comes close. She was an especially spotty brown dalmation with exceptional marking. Her ears were solidly colored and she had large spots around her eyes like a mask. She was grumpy and self-righteous most of the time, but she was too cute when her lips would curl up in a funny doggy smile. She'd smile and her tail would wag her whole body when she was excited to see us. Oh, I miss that dog.

Often in moments left unto myself, riding on the back of some meandering thought, I think about people (or dogs) from my past and then I miss them terribly. Sometimes they are people who were very important for a while, like good friends who parted ways...people I can still find on the internet, whose current friends I sometimes envy when I remember how much fun we had. I find it best not to contact them as I might rehash the past and launch into some melodramatic escapade. Sometimes they are just figures I wish I would have better acknowledged at the time...a stranger that shared a story, someone who wished me well or offered help. I wonder how they are doing and wish I could thank them for whatever moment we shared, though often they wouldn't remember me. And really, I have to suppress that stalking tendency because it's rarely seen in a positive light. They have restraining orders for that kind of thing. It seems better to ignore the thought of them than to miss them so much, but sometimes it's kind of nice to really miss someone.

Moment narrowly avoided. Here's to the midweek and to puppies!