Amaryllis sillyramA

The other day I was walking around the corner to a friend’s house to pick up my kids. It was not yet five o’clock and not quite all the way dark. We live on a busy street and usually people drive faster than they should there. As I walked I noticed a long line of cars approaching, going way slower than the speed limit. I watched the cars get nearer until finally, in the dim light, I could make out the cause: a tiny dog running full tilt down the road. I think it was a Chihuahua. The car right behind it was flashing its flashers and keeping its distance. The dog + car procession passed me and headed on down the road. A man came sprinting in the same direction, and I thought Oh there’s the owner, that’s a relief. Then I noticed his jogging outfit and I heard him shouting. “Is that dog still going? I’m not the owner!” Damn.

I couldn’t chase the dog. I wouldn’t have caught him; I’m not that fast in rain boots. If I did chase him and managed to get close to him, what then? Accidentally spook him into oncoming traffic? Where on earth is he going? Is he my other neighbor-friend’s dog? The friend who recently lost his first dog to a leash malfunction on a busy road? This dog is long gone now and I have done nothing but look and think. A minute or two has passed. I’m no help.

Better go get my girls.

Today, the first clear cold day so far this November, the four year old and I were having a close look at a couple of ducks at the pond near my work.

Me: Oh, let’s back up a bit, we don’t want to drive them into the water on a cold day like this.

Her: It’s a good day for a swim! Or a good day for a fly? To keep warm!