It's strange how some things you take for granted at home hold such power over you away from it. And you don’t even know it. For instance take the two Labrador Retrievers at home whom I love but rarely indulge (that's Mom and Ze Monk's work). Little did I realize the subtle ways in which they are a part of my psyche. The other day, walking back from the drudgery of work, my fearsome ‘walking alone on the road’ scowl on my face, I came across our friendly neighbour Cheeku. The scowl just poofed away to be replaced by a grin as I waited for him to spot me and come bounding my way. After a short greeting, a pat on the head and a handshake with my buddy I continued on my way home, a spring in my step. The awful day at work was forgotten in a trice!
On Sunday, after a quiet weekend spent at home – sleeping and reading – I was in a dull mood. So I decided to go for a walk and silently wished that I’d meet Cheeku on his evening rounds. Amazingly, there he was dripping love and slobber, sweet and gentle as I petted him. Completely like our Julie!
It was funny therefore, to bump into another Labrador – a female called Zeenat – who is the absolute opposite of Cheeku just moments later. Zeenat in her exuberance and misplaced buoyant bobbings up and down reminded me of Comet; dumb, excitable, lovable! As Deepa and I exchanged pleasantries, Zeenat strained to be let lose. Every time I patted her head, she wanted to gnaw on my hand and every time we asked her to “Sit!” or “Shake hands” she obliged for a fraction of a second before trying to prance on her hind legs or ball dance with me (yes, she had her front paws on my shoulders in a flash)! She positively has a mad streak like Comet! This time an even wider grin stayed firmly in place as I got back home.
Our darling Jule-pule turned 10 the day before yesterday and I wish we didn’t have to say that wistfully. She has easily been one of the best things to have happened to our family after we moved to Bhubaneswar – the hours of joy and companionship cannot be put into words. It is especially difficult for an undemonstrative person like me (also a stickler for order and cleanliness) to show the world how much the pets matter, but they do.
J & C - I love you very much! *hug*
1 comments:
you need to be a bit less descriptive of your canine friends.. for a few moment i was think what kind of wierdo named Cheeku would go "dripping love and slobber.." !! ":) :)
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