A Winter's Tail
Today the sun shines in the far reaches of the north where
winters icy grip has reigned with the furiousness of an angry ogre.
Tempered by the slow melt and the appearance of a dry stretch of road I
ventured out with my trusty companion of a mutt Calvin. Calvin, a Jack
Russell terrorist has never been one for any temperature below 40
degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. Better to pass the winter from behind
the safety of a warm house and a clear window than to immerse ones paw
into the cold wetness of springs melting snow.
The sun was warm on my face and Calvin walked with his snout to the
wind. It was wonderful to see the familiar cracks on the road and to
pass trees like old friends that stood as sentinels along our trodden
path. Although they looked cold and naked in the chill, their knurled
faces greeted us nonetheless, and I recognized many whose faces smiled
with the wrinkles of countless years. Calvin on the other hand recognized many for the scent around their trunks. I’m not sure how
pleased they were to see him.
As it turned out Calvin was unable to finish our modest trek because
his paws froze, and looking at me with those big brown puppy eyes that
begged for help I had no choice but to try and lift the beggar. The
only trouble is that Calvin is ticklish on the feet. I know...it’s hard
to believe. And he is stout enough that lifting him around the chest
usually ends with a tumultuous growl or perhaps a small nip on the
hand. Somehow I managed to get him up and supported his back feet in
the palm of my hand, and with my other arm, cradled his chest so that
he looked like the figurehead of a ship pointing the way home. The
neighbours had quite a howl and no doubt wondered who the master was.
Cars honked their horns driving by and the sight of smiling faces
hidden behind windshields made me wish that we had ventured out after
dark.
Nevertheless, having survived the shame and humiliation we arrived home
and Calvin quickly recovered after a small Scooby Snack. Tomorrow is a
new day and spring will no doubt inch a wee bit closer. The days are
getting longer and warmer, and perhaps next time we may make it to the
end of the driveway.
“ Lionheart
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He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
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