Lion and Magic Boy

Tonight I dragged everyone out after dinner (brown rice and asparagus, with garbanzo beans, garlic and tahini = awesome!) for a walk. It was a gorgeous spring day today, and while Eric and I enjoyed a walk this afternoon I thought it would be good for the older children to get out as well.

Right away we had problems:

First, Serena’s stomach hurt and she was consumed by the event. She’s been having what I suspect are psychosomatic synptoms to all the transitions and stress in her life. Some people thrive on change; others have more difficulty. It’s something I’ve been working with her on.

I dosed her with the appropriate homeopathic remedies and we continued on our way. Meanwhile, Nathaniel had taken off on his bike.

It was at about this time that I couldn’t help noticing the smell. Pervasive. Strong. And absolutely nauseating. Could it have something to do with that no-longer-picturesque-looking-considering-the-awful-smell farm nearby? It could. At least, maybe if 400 dead cows were left out decomposing in the sun. That would explain the smell. No matter which way I turned from the breeze, there it was.

Gah.

So in this frame of mind, I was less than happy to greet a barking, jumping dog who crossed the street specifically to jump on me, the stroller with Eric in it, and Serena, and did I mention me? And ripped the iPod out of my ears?

Now, I had a dog, for a time. Not *my* dog per se, but he did live in my house. And I created a raw food menu for him, made the food, fed it to him, took him outside, petted him, and gave him Reiki. But I couldn’t love him, as much as I wanted to. For one thing, he already had given his heart to someone, that was clear. And another, he was…a dog. Nothing against him, and he was a wonderful dog as dogs go, but…still a dog.

It’s my belief that you’re either a Dog Person or a Cat Person. Some few are both. I know which I am.

So this jumpy-barky dog, I shooed him away a few times, assuring him that he should go back across the street where he belonged (but NOT when there’s a car coming! LOOK OUT!), and even though he caused me to lose the little foam-thing from my left earphone, I won’t hold it against him. His owners, perhaps, but his rudeness isn’t his fault.

Nathaniel, however, approaching the jumpy-barky dog on his bike, took off as fast as he could go, the dog chasing him, then bolted the garage door and hurled himself inside the house to await us. Glad to know I can rely on that boy to save me from jumpy-barky dogs.

IMPORTANT ADDENDUM! If you are indeed a Cat Person, I will know this about you almost immediately. Men who are Cat People score extra points in the point-scoring department. Sorry, can’t help judging on that basis. And? If you pass the Cat Test, meaning that if my cats like you, then I am allowed to associate with you. Sorry it has to be this way, but I have no control over the situation whatsoever. The cats apparently have this whole thing figured out.
[tags]cat people, dog people, cats, dogs, raw food, sacrifice, jumpy-barky dogs, iPod[/tags]