Let’s be clear – I’m well aware I’m a lucky dog. I get to go
to the park every day – sometimes two a day, I get tummy rubs, treats, games of
fetch, and lots of cuddling pretty much just for breathing in and out. Plus, I have a clique. That’s right, I’m part of the in-crowd
at the park. I’m one of those cool girls you want to be wagging her tail,
sporting a pink puffy jacket, and racing around the grass…I know, I know, you
want to be part of my clique too.
But the best part of the park is my friends. Tillie Lou is my best friend, and there’s Parker and
Coltrane and Jack and Navarre that I get to play with every day…I know, wipe
the drool from those jowls. I’m a
lucky girl like I said.
Plus, my mom has her whole group of friends that she gabs
with while I wander around looking for food and sniffing tushes. I pretty much take full credit for her
friendships and joy that she gets from the park though since it’s only because
of me that she met any of them.
It’s true – we would come to the park for me to play two years ago and
she met all of these ‘park friends’ who’ve turned into real friends. And now she has her group that she gets
to see every day too – and it seems like the park must have some kind of magic
power because no matter how rushed and stressed she is before we get to the
park, once we’re there it all melts away.
It’s our grassy temple, our meditation center, and our place
of peace all wrapped up with trees and fields. And while the rolling hills and sunny patches are gifts in
and of themselves, the biggest blessing is the friends we’ve made.
She’s sitting there (leaving me at home, I might add) in the
hospital waiting room, biding her time until her friend is ready to be taken
home. They left her house at 5:15
am, shared sleep-deprived giggles in their slaphappy states, and kissed goodbye
when her Tillie Lou’s mommy walked down the sterile hall. And now my mommy waits for her friend
because that’s what friends do.
Because Tillie Lou’s mommy is a true friend, which humans apparently
only get a scant few of in a lifetime.
My mommy woke up at 4:30 because her Tillie Lou’s mommy hears her and
listens to her, supports her even when she doesn’t agree, makes her laugh when
she’s stressed and cries with her when she’s sad. Tillie’s mom shares inspiration and compassion, patience and
kindness, and mostly loves her exactly as she is, just because, every day. And that earns her endless puppy licks
from me and the title of true friend.
So that’s the blessing of the park – we get to play and run
and lie in the sun all while cultivating friendships that go beyond grassy
fields but rather are rooted deep, strong roots that withstand California
winds.
Like I said, I take full credit for all of the joy of the
park because if it wasn’t for me, I wouldn’t have my doggy posse and my mom
would still be sleeping cozy in bed right now…wait, wait, that doesn’t sound
right….
Oh right, she’d be cozy and snuggling with me but without
her true friend. No question about it – she’s happier in the waiting room.
There is a park sitting in this backyard. Let me repeat - there is a PARK sitting in this backyard! Why am I the only one excited about this? You're all sitting around shmoozing over lunch and i am simultaneously at someone's home and at a park! This is incredible!! So maybe it's just a huge backyard but it definitely has the park de jour...still there's something missing...hang on...it'll come to me...
The expensive lawn furniture isn't stocked with pee-mail, the grass isn't hiding left-over food, and i'm just lying here quietly next to you until you're ready to leave (and also just in case you drop some food.)
