[2022-10-21] Thank you for sharing
When Mel and I go out for a walk, we often encounter dogs and their owners. If we meet a dog who has the right energy—neither aggressive nor fearful—Mel will ask the owner whether she can pet their dog. Most people are happy to share their dog, recognizing the joy that their pet can bring to someone else.
Mel and I frequently chat with the owners, getting to know their dog's story. In fact, we often learn the dog's name long before we learn the owner's name, if we ever get that far. Tonight, for example, we stopped to talk to a woman whose dog is four years younger than our Freddie was. When we were still walking Freddie regularly, we would often see the woman and Dunlop, especially in the Hazeldean Woods.
We also met a man who had a dark-brown poodle-terrier mix—a rescue from Iqaluit, named Charlie. As Mel played with Charlie, his owner told us that his daughter had also gotten a rescue from up north: a husky-coyote mix that he said had the sweetest personality. As we parted, I said what I always say on these occasions: "Thank you for sharing." That could mean thank you for sharing your dog, thank you for sharing your story, thank you for sharing your time. In fact, it means all three.
While we've always admired other people's dogs, these moments of interaction are even more meaningful to Mel and me since the loss of our precious Freddie. Because people are willing to share their dog, their story and their time, we're able to get a little dose of doggie love. And for that, I am grateful.
