Squirrel

If you were a dog, what would be the most anticipated part of your daily existence?  A head pat? A car ride? A belly rub? Yep, yes, and uh-huh!

If you were a dog, what would you do with your spare time?  Sleep? Look out the window? Lick your own tush? Sure, oh yeah, and why not!?

If you were a dog, what would thrill you beyond belief, make your doggy dreams come true?  The mailman? A chew toy? A squirrel? Wow, oh boy, and ABSOLUTELY!

If you saw a squirrel, what would you do next?  Ignore it? Move on? Walk the other way? Nope, nothin, nada, and NO WAY!

Last week, mom and i were out for our walk around the town of Belvidere, NJ and came to the Garret D. Wall Park, my favorite sniffing spot on our entire beat. Truly, i love when our wandering takes us by this little plot of paradise because there is a fresh opportunity to put my nose to the ground at every light pole, bench and blade of grass. The park is really the place to be, and any dog who is any dog can convince their people to take a few laps here, so the nostril news is intoxicating.

Side note: When Mr. Wall donated the land in 1824 (remember, dad is a history teacher), he said no one could ever erect a permanent structure on the sight, so visitors can see from one side clear to the other while they stroll.

We were halfway around the four-sided fantasy land when what to my wondering eyes did appear…but a great grey squirrel, not a tiny reindeer…we were in New Jersey, remember.

A squirrel!  

I have absolutely no idea what these creeping creatures actually do, but they get me every time.  As soon as i see one, i have to know more, so i was hooked at first sight. Look mom, look mom, look mom, look!  Can i go, can i go, can i go, can i go? C’mon, c’mon, c’mon….it’s a squirrel!!!! What is he doing? Where is he going?  Is he carrying a nut? Does he know the squirrel i saw yesterday? Is he the squirrel i saw yesterday?  Moooooooooooooooom, I.Want.To.Go!

My squirrel-induced pleadings usually meet with a derisive laugh or a snarky comment, but the divine dogs in the sky were smiling on me that day…i got some extra leash, and i was off!  

Loose the hounds boys, loose the hounds.  

Moments later, mom dragging close behind me, i found myself at the foot of a one-hundred year old sycamore tree with a diameter around which i could not see.  Just my luck! I ran left and i ran right. I jumped and i barked. I ran right and i ran left. I put my one foot up, i put my one foot down, i did the hokey-pokey and i turned myself around.

And then i realized the squirrel was sitting on a branch in a tall pine twenty yards away.

I was literally barking up the wrong tree.

If you were a dog, what would thrill you beyond belief, make your doggy dreams come true?   The mailman? A chew toy? A squirrel?

If you saw a squirrel, what would you do next?  Ignore it? Move on? Walk the other way?

News flash, i’m a dog, and i go for it. I go for it without reserve.  I go for it with every ounce of giant puppy enthusiasm i can muster. Hot diggity dog, i go for it.

And so should you.

That squirrel, every squirrel, is the embodiment of my dreams come true.  That squirrel, every squirrel, is what i wake up each morning hoping to see. That squirrel, every squirrel, holds the secret to my passion, my curiosity, and my quest to be me.

I have to go after that squirrel…even if it sometimes means barking up the wrong tree.

i’m a dog, i love life, and i have flaws.  i’m perfect. imperfect. Just. Like. You.