Playing With Raindrops

[CJ]

Hi all,

I got up this morning, went to the kitchen, put the kettle on for coffee, and stared out the patio doors to the backyard. Blecchh! A cold, gray, rainy day. The cats, Milan and Méchoui, were itching to go outside, not realizing what a crappy day it is out there. They both sat at the door, meowing, Milan even standing on his hind legs, pawing at the window. "Ha! You want to go out?" I thought, "well, okay, there you go, Suckers!" I slid the doors open. Méchoui froze at the threshhold but, to my utter astonishment, Milan just sprinted across the dying lawn, skirting the little piles of fallen leaves and shook himself as the raindrops pelted him. He sat there, in the wet, brown grass for a few seconds before bolting back to the shelter of the balcony. Then he sprinted out again, shaking the rain off his fur. He ran around in circles for a few seconds and then came running back. He did it a third time as I watched, completely amazed (he usually can't stand being wet). I stood transfixed, as the kettle whistled behind me. The little bugger was playing with the rain.

Lesson learned.

It may not be such a bad day, after all.

Love,
CJ

[Virginia]

What a lovely sentiment and it does make one stop and consider all that we are exposed to and often overlook.
We have a neighbor who has two purebred collies. One is just a puppy and is so full of life. The older dog tolerates the "kid" with all his childish energy and his "there are no strangers" attitude. The puppy just runs and jumps and plays and when he runs up to me to be touched, his tail wagging at max rpm's then off he goes to explore other new and exciting things in his world, I can't help but try and feel his exerburance for life and the thrill of "just being!"
It is the old adage, " Stop and smell the roses!"
Love you all,
Virginia

[DeeDee]

I have two dogs, very similar to what Virginia described., well temperment wise anyway. Sometimes when I'm down, the pup (2 years old) will grab a toy and just throw it around, having fun...its a delight to see..and unlimited energy. Somehow it gets me out of my funk watching him. The old dog will usually just press herself against me for petting while looking at me with her huge, doggie eyes (they go to school for that). Both are a breath of fresh air. They certainly are a jolt back to what its all about...they don't care about bills, jobs etc......thay just remind you how nice it is to enjoy life, and they do enjoy the little things. I think we could learn a lot from them.
DeeDee

[Anita]

That's a charming little picture, CJ, and I hope the coffee was good! I can also just 'see' the dogs in Virginia and Dee Dee's posts. Dogs certainly have a way of expressing"vitality," for want of a better word.

I stoop over to encounter Dylan, our border collie, and he'll be grateful for being petted, his tail going like a thunderstorm windshield wiper. I do look into his eyes, and try to read what I'm seeing there. An old Donovan line comes to mind: "What's it been like, being you?"