The yellow lab mix teacher....
Posted by Student John on May 14, 2002 at 09:41:17:

In Reply to: Re: Just a hard-working stiff. posted by Douglas on May 11, 2002 at 16:03:11:

Hi, Douglas. I’ve been thinking about you and your mother and what I
might say. Nothing seemed apt.
I started my canyon walk early this morning to avoid the heat. A
jangling bundle of yellow energy comes from my right and takes the
lead without looking back No greeting for me. The park is closed on
Tuesdays so on this occasion I don’t practice excuses for not having
him on a leash. He’s marking continuously as we go. There are
several forks in the trail and I occasionally “let” him choose. We
see no one until on a narrow passage, I meet an elderly trail
maintenance volunteer sitting on a rock partially blocking the path
peeling his apple. The yellow lab mix is lagging, examining some
scat. I exchange a greeting with the volunteer and carry on only to be
stopped a hundred yards down the trail by the query, “Is this your
dog?” I say, "No," and hear back from the volunteer, "The dog is
reluctant to pass." I hear the volunteer encouraging the dog to pass
and I return toward him with a whistle and encouragement of my own. He
comes bounding down the trail. Further down he meets a dog with owner
on a leash and frolics with them. He’s gone ahead again, out of sight
now as I meet a woman walking up, asking, “Is that your dog?” “No, a
neighbor’s.” “ He sure is nice!” I feel strange that I’ve never
petted the dog and as I round the corner, I call for him to come which
he does reluctantly and graciously allows me to pet him, turning back
toward home rather too quickly for me. His household has closed down
during his walk with me so unlike our previous walk, he carries on
with me to my house. I say good bye to him at my door. We’ll walk
with you and your mother. Love, Student John

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Archived 08/26/2002