Need to Believe - Christmas 2014

Need to Believe

Christmas, 2014

We need to believe in a better world, where people cherish family, love and raise their own small passel of children, where everyone can be educated who wishes it, where major illnesses are cared for without financially destroying people, where men and women, children and animals, are supported in their right to live freely, breathe pure air, drink clean and plentiful water, and be free of oppression and suffering perpetrated on them by mankind itself.

Somehow we have been sold the idea that peace is wimpy and violence is not only the essence of manhood, but fun - entertainment. Yet it is peace, love and healing which lie at the core of all joy, wisdom and prosperity - the soul in civilization itself. Only in peace can the human mind be deeply creative; only in peace can we raise children who will be kind, responsible, humane and hopeful; only in peace can we do lasting good in the world. Only with love can we see beauty, experience it in our souls, cherish it and make it grow. Only by healing, ourselves and our planet, can we even hope to survive.

So say a prayer, whisper a good word, think a good thought, touch someone you love, look into the eyes of your friends, hold a child's hand, embrace your lover, pat your dog. Write a letter. Sign a petition. Save the planet. Pay it forward, and love back.

A Day in the Life: Yanqui's sire

Soft sunshine today, after days and days of rain, overcast and drizzle. However, the moisture has been more than welcome. At last, our Labradoodle, Yanqui, can get a bike run. He has been trying so hard to hold himself in and not be Crazy Boy. He's fine until I try to play with him, then he gets so excited he stomps on my feet and keeps bumping me with his nose, so he really needs this run. When my sisters visited over Thanksgiving, the weather was fine and we biked most days and also walked. Since Thanksgiving it's been rain, rain rain. 

Last night, we got out under the stars. Poppi was snoozing, but the dogs and I walked beneath a blue moon. There was a bit of mud, but - according to the dogs - everything smelled delightful. The frogs are back, singing in the vineyard ponds. Tonight is the Christmas Parade and I am hoping we can make it into town to see it. The parade is a very "small town" event, with some floats but mostly regular cars, lit with strands of bulbs and carrying hometown revelers. There are always families with dogs in the parade: dogs in antlers; dogs in Santa hats.

We met Yanqui's Sir-to-be at the first Christmas Parade we attended here. It was so cold, and, after introductions, I "asked" the Standard Poodle next to me to keep me warm. During most of the Parade, he either leaned on me or sat on my feet, despite having a loving owner on the other end of the leash. He was also a very well set-up dog with excellent bone and a nice solid head. So I asked his owner about him and she said he was going to be at stud, but not for Standards. She was going to raise Doodles. Mikey, having had a long term love affair with Labradoodles wherever we met them, got her name and number. Two years later, Yanqui was born. I had just had surgery and didn't feel I was yet ready for a pup, having only the use of one arm at the time. But we went to see the last pup left from the litter, also the biggest, and I took him for a walk. At 14 weeks, and with little previous experience, he responded perfectly to leash pressure, and had a very nice, easygoing yet friendly and chummy way about him. Mike was sold when he went back to the car to get something and the pup ran after him, as if to say, "Aren't you taking me home, Mister?" 

We had to leave Yanqui (then "Samwise") with the breeder that afternoon, but were back the very next morning to pick him up. On the first day in his new home, Yanqui donned his "Raksha collar" (made from her fur). We hoped that his being a pup, plus smelling like her, might encourage or fool her into accepting him as one of her own. With a slow, 2-day introduction, they met and were comfortable together from the beginning. He wanted to play, but she wanted him to be a good boy, and stand back a bit - puhleeze! Now they are a team - a weird team, admittedly, but a team nonetheless. If he hears her bark, he runs to back her up (while staying out of her way - very diplomatically!) If she notices that he hears something she can't hear, or sees something she hasn't seen, she responds to his cue. Yanqui is the only creature, besides myself and Poppi, who is allowed in Rocky's sacred Laundry Room space (which contains the food bins and a well-used and well-loved orthopedic dog bed). Rocky won't even allow our cats in there. Due to her advanced age, we permit her this small grudge. 

Below is the Dynamic Duo. Who says opposites can't attract?