I took my dogs for a walk. It was sunny. High 80s. The blossoming trees made Crestwood smell like heaven. The first person I met was an old man, sitting in his yard. He was beneath a massive oak. He ate from a hospital tray, sipped tea from a straw. He wore a Gilligan hat. His nurse was seated with him.
With the introduction of the last lady, my mind immediately went to Steel Magnolias and Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine). Ouiser would approve of naming a dog Pig if was after an ex-husband, hahaha.
Never move from the South: I fear you’ll run out of fodder. Folks up here are milk toast in comparison. And if 54 is elderly I must be decrepit, lol!
In a perfect world people would have the same affinity and affection for cats (as dogs). Cats are conditioned to be wary because many people aren’t kind to them. There’s far too many feral and stray cats due to abandonment. Spay and neuter. Adopt (from a shelter) don’t shop, whether cat or dog.
I always said I was going to write a children's book about this exact topic. We adopted a Basset hound named Beasley many years ago and as you can imagine he was quite the talk of the neighborhood when we took him on our walks every day. Especially when as a puppy he tripped on his ears.....
We got to know almost everyone within a 5 block radius of our home if not further, only because of this precious hound who we secretly titled the Richfield "Ambassettor". He lived to be 14 and brought us, and so many others a lot of joy! Your story is spot on. Thank you.
Truth! My neighbors never even realized I lived on the block until I got my dog Pancake. Everyone loves Pancake and she loves everyone! (Not always every dog, though) Now I stop and chat with all the neighbors on our walks. And none of us know each other’s names, just the dog’s names. 😂
Had to clap my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t burst out laughing and wake up husband when I read of Pig’s namesake. And the scent of the cigar…you are hilarious, Sean.
Made me think of a guy in my neighborhood who walks four or five quarter horses twice a day. I came out of my house yesterday as he walked by. Rescues he said.
Yes. Everyone talks to people with dogs...or horses.
It’s true. People do talk to you when you have a dog. They are wonderful icebreakers. Animals fill parts of our world we might not have known were lacking. Currently we share our lives with Buttercup, an 11 year old tuxedo cat who performs duties inside the house like sofa doily in the living room, pattern weight in the sewing room, and foot warmer in the bedroom. She doesn’t ever go outside. Too many hawks, coyotes, and bears with the dossier on her sweetness. We are currently dogless, still mourning the loss of some beloved pups and know one day we’ll fall in love with a fuzzy face again. For now, I make a point of greeting my dog friends on my daily runs in the park. There’s a Sheltie named Ella who is being trained by her mistress (I don’t know her name). I have befriended Ella to the point that one day, from way across a very large area, she broke from her heel and zoomed over to me to receive the love and neck scratches she was used to getting from me when we crisscrossed closer on the trail. I told her she was a bad dog while smiling and laughing at how excited she was to see me. I was so honored. I held her there with extra pets as her mistress jogged over to us. All was well. It was Ella’s first day of off-the-leash heeling. She flunked, but none of us cared as Ella did her Sheltie spin in complete joie de vivre. Another dog friend on my runs is Lolly. She’s medium-sized, long black fur, and I don’t know what breed she is besides purebred sweetheart. Her mistress is training Lolly, so she’d rather I didn’t pet her anymore, which I disagree with, but Lolly is not my dog. As we approach, the lady pulls off to the side of the trail and has Lolly sit. The task is for her to stay sitting and not investigate the new person, speak, or anything but stay quietly sitting. I liked it better when I was allowed to love on Lolly. Her mistress explained that Lolly is supposed to stay like that until she is released. Not wanting to contribute to the delinquency of a dog, I stopped loving on her. Lolly has gotten good at this tasking. The last several times I’ve seen her, I say, “Good dog,” as I pass whereupon she stands up and wags. Her mistress shrugs and grits a smile at me. She’s supposed to release the dog, not me. I’m sorry. I can’t help calling it like I see it. A good dog should be told this on a regular basis. Another set of friends I have on my runs are a lovely couple with three adorable Corgis. They are a pair of the traditional (or Queen’s favorite) golden color, and one mostly black with brown and white on the face. The dark one smiles at me everyday and when off leash will come to me for pets. One of the gold ones will allow it and comes somewhat close, the third one is more shy, but wags like her sisters to see me. I don’t know their names. I have dubbed all three “Cuties,” and their people have not corrected me. Anyone would name them such. They are irresistibly cute. If I met you in a park, Sean, I would undoubtedly know the names of your dogs, or named them myself. It would not have been a way I would meet you. Luckily you write this lovely column.
I like people that like dogs. I have one. He's a Jack Russell Terrorist. His name is Barrett, but he answers to, "Doyouwannasnack". People that don't like dogs, I don't care for them much.
I’m a Nanny to a 17 month baby boy. His family lives in a nice neighborhood, but I wouldn’t say it affluent enough to like, be snotty. I take him for a walk almost daily. You’d be surprised how busy people are when they’re walking that they don’t even return a wave or a hello. There is one lady, Glenda, who was especially snotty with her dog, Winston. I won her over though. Learn they’re names and keep smiling. Yesterday she was out with her friend and we walk up. She’s says, She’s a Nanny (big smile). Winston was happy to see us too. Have a great day, everyone.
My husband use to love to walk our lab, Cappuccino because young girls just loved petting Cappi. My husband just loved looking at the young girls thinking they were swooning over him :)
Sean, thanks for making my husband and I laugh out loud; that’s always a great way to start your day. As an Auburn grad, I am proud of those young Auburn students for helping their neighbor; it’s hilarious that they think 54 is old. By the way, I love your artwork. God has blessed you with writing and drawing talents. However, I am certainly no artist. I used to tell my 6th grade English students that the stick figures I drew were crooked. Love to you. Jamie, Marigold, Otis Campbell, and Thelma Lou.
With the introduction of the last lady, my mind immediately went to Steel Magnolias and Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine). Ouiser would approve of naming a dog Pig if was after an ex-husband, hahaha.
Never move from the South: I fear you’ll run out of fodder. Folks up here are milk toast in comparison. And if 54 is elderly I must be decrepit, lol!
In a perfect world people would have the same affinity and affection for cats (as dogs). Cats are conditioned to be wary because many people aren’t kind to them. There’s far too many feral and stray cats due to abandonment. Spay and neuter. Adopt (from a shelter) don’t shop, whether cat or dog.
Love this story.
I always said I was going to write a children's book about this exact topic. We adopted a Basset hound named Beasley many years ago and as you can imagine he was quite the talk of the neighborhood when we took him on our walks every day. Especially when as a puppy he tripped on his ears.....
We got to know almost everyone within a 5 block radius of our home if not further, only because of this precious hound who we secretly titled the Richfield "Ambassettor". He lived to be 14 and brought us, and so many others a lot of joy! Your story is spot on. Thank you.
Truth! My neighbors never even realized I lived on the block until I got my dog Pancake. Everyone loves Pancake and she loves everyone! (Not always every dog, though) Now I stop and chat with all the neighbors on our walks. And none of us know each other’s names, just the dog’s names. 😂
There's a reason it's God spelled backwards - -
Had to clap my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t burst out laughing and wake up husband when I read of Pig’s namesake. And the scent of the cigar…you are hilarious, Sean.
This is true! They don't know my name, but everyone knows my Rocky!
Thanks for noting the kindness of the Auburn girls. That is the kind of behavior that is encouraged at Auburn.
Made me think of a guy in my neighborhood who walks four or five quarter horses twice a day. I came out of my house yesterday as he walked by. Rescues he said.
Yes. Everyone talks to people with dogs...or horses.
Such a GREAT story!!
Dogs are the absolute best!!
I miss my furry babies ~ can’t wait to get out of this HOA community & back to a single home with a fenced yard for the kidz ~ 🐶
Gonna go to the pound & ask which 2 small dogs have been here the longest…they will come home with me! 💕🐾💕🐾💕🐾💕🐾💕
54?! Ouch!!! 😜
It’s true. People do talk to you when you have a dog. They are wonderful icebreakers. Animals fill parts of our world we might not have known were lacking. Currently we share our lives with Buttercup, an 11 year old tuxedo cat who performs duties inside the house like sofa doily in the living room, pattern weight in the sewing room, and foot warmer in the bedroom. She doesn’t ever go outside. Too many hawks, coyotes, and bears with the dossier on her sweetness. We are currently dogless, still mourning the loss of some beloved pups and know one day we’ll fall in love with a fuzzy face again. For now, I make a point of greeting my dog friends on my daily runs in the park. There’s a Sheltie named Ella who is being trained by her mistress (I don’t know her name). I have befriended Ella to the point that one day, from way across a very large area, she broke from her heel and zoomed over to me to receive the love and neck scratches she was used to getting from me when we crisscrossed closer on the trail. I told her she was a bad dog while smiling and laughing at how excited she was to see me. I was so honored. I held her there with extra pets as her mistress jogged over to us. All was well. It was Ella’s first day of off-the-leash heeling. She flunked, but none of us cared as Ella did her Sheltie spin in complete joie de vivre. Another dog friend on my runs is Lolly. She’s medium-sized, long black fur, and I don’t know what breed she is besides purebred sweetheart. Her mistress is training Lolly, so she’d rather I didn’t pet her anymore, which I disagree with, but Lolly is not my dog. As we approach, the lady pulls off to the side of the trail and has Lolly sit. The task is for her to stay sitting and not investigate the new person, speak, or anything but stay quietly sitting. I liked it better when I was allowed to love on Lolly. Her mistress explained that Lolly is supposed to stay like that until she is released. Not wanting to contribute to the delinquency of a dog, I stopped loving on her. Lolly has gotten good at this tasking. The last several times I’ve seen her, I say, “Good dog,” as I pass whereupon she stands up and wags. Her mistress shrugs and grits a smile at me. She’s supposed to release the dog, not me. I’m sorry. I can’t help calling it like I see it. A good dog should be told this on a regular basis. Another set of friends I have on my runs are a lovely couple with three adorable Corgis. They are a pair of the traditional (or Queen’s favorite) golden color, and one mostly black with brown and white on the face. The dark one smiles at me everyday and when off leash will come to me for pets. One of the gold ones will allow it and comes somewhat close, the third one is more shy, but wags like her sisters to see me. I don’t know their names. I have dubbed all three “Cuties,” and their people have not corrected me. Anyone would name them such. They are irresistibly cute. If I met you in a park, Sean, I would undoubtedly know the names of your dogs, or named them myself. It would not have been a way I would meet you. Luckily you write this lovely column.
I like people that like dogs. I have one. He's a Jack Russell Terrorist. His name is Barrett, but he answers to, "Doyouwannasnack". People that don't like dogs, I don't care for them much.
I’m a Nanny to a 17 month baby boy. His family lives in a nice neighborhood, but I wouldn’t say it affluent enough to like, be snotty. I take him for a walk almost daily. You’d be surprised how busy people are when they’re walking that they don’t even return a wave or a hello. There is one lady, Glenda, who was especially snotty with her dog, Winston. I won her over though. Learn they’re names and keep smiling. Yesterday she was out with her friend and we walk up. She’s says, She’s a Nanny (big smile). Winston was happy to see us too. Have a great day, everyone.
My husband use to love to walk our lab, Cappuccino because young girls just loved petting Cappi. My husband just loved looking at the young girls thinking they were swooning over him :)
❤️💕
Sean, thanks for making my husband and I laugh out loud; that’s always a great way to start your day. As an Auburn grad, I am proud of those young Auburn students for helping their neighbor; it’s hilarious that they think 54 is old. By the way, I love your artwork. God has blessed you with writing and drawing talents. However, I am certainly no artist. I used to tell my 6th grade English students that the stick figures I drew were crooked. Love to you. Jamie, Marigold, Otis Campbell, and Thelma Lou.