Waiting...
London, ON, April 2007
I'm posting this tonight because Carli is absolutely right: the world needs more wiggly puppies. Here goes...
There are so many really nice things about having a dog (see here for an early observation.) The one that stands out for me is the greeting. Coming home will never be the same now that there's a wiggling, happy, fur-covered animal on the other side of the door.
What strikes me is the unconditional nature of the greeting. It doesn't matter how lousy your day has been or the mood that you're in. Your dog will be just as happy to see you no matter how dark that cloud over your head is. When you get inside and hug the now-insane animal in a vain attempt to get him to calm down, you realize that whatever it was that got you down in the first place really doesn't matter so much after all.
Here, Frasier waits for his mommy to get to the door. Note the relative peace with which he sits. He hasn't seen her yet.
Your turn: Why does a happy greeting - pet, human, whatever - matter so much to us? Can a pet heal the world?
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21 comments:
How adorable! Believ it or not I get welcomed home by my cat who will sit by the wiindow upstairs adn then run down to meet me as I come in the front door! It is great to come home to :-)
I so know that feeling. My Maggie has always made me feel like I was gone for years even if it was only 5 minutes!
Although, there are some things of that welcome home I can do without, like the nose up the butt as soon as you turn around...she is T H E most nasally oriented dog I know.
Your pooch is WAY too cute.
Very sweet! We don't have any pets... ironically, I'm working on a post on that. BUT my son always runs to the door to greet me & give me a "big hug, Mommy!!" It's nice to be missed... and to know that your presence matters, huh?
What a lovely photo! I used to have a dog and in recent weeks I have had a real longing to have another furry companion. I am allergic to cats so a dog would be my choice everytime! Pet's really can be a great addition to ones life...maybe when I can walk better I'll be able to get the doggie I'm wishing for!
Such a sweet, sweet post and so true.
What a great shot.
Isn't Frasier just the most adorable little fella!
When they stayed with us, my parents in law said that my elderly cat Pandy used to jump on the window sill at the exact time I *left* work and waited there until I walked through the door. They couldn't work out how she knew......
My old cat Polly walked 11 miles to find me when I moved out from home as a teenager.
Now Pandy greets us with yells as she gets vocal now she's really getting on.
Charlie tends to wait until we're in and settled then bowls down the stairs to check it's really us....he's very nervous.
I wouldn't be without my felines....and I just *know* that Frasier and you all are going to be VERY happy.......
cq
I think pets can go a long way towards healing what's wrong with your world! i am dogless right now but walked a friend's dog today and the sheer pleasure she took in her walk was infectious. i miss that enthusiastic doggy greeting so much!!
That Fraiser is too cute! And you said it all here, Carmi, about the love and enthusiasm of a dog.
And yes...I firmly believe that a dog can heal the world. I would be lost without mine. They are non-judgemental, give genuine love and devotion and if dogs ruled the world....society would be a much nicer place. It's a medical fact that they can lower our blood pressure, prevent depression and give us a purpose on a daily basis. There's nothing like a dog!
Unconditional love is a necessity, is it not? There's only one way to et it and that's from a pet!
Your post reminds me of when Dino greets Fred Flintstone when returns home from a hard day at the rock quarry. And of a couple of loyal dogs I've been fortunate enough to have been associated with.
Mike
I DO think pets can heal the world. My boyfriend has a puppy, Missy, just turned one the other day. I posted a picture of her yesterday.
I have two cats. Cody and Darbi. Darbi is sweet and independent, but makes you feel so special when she comes to you for attention.
Cody is like a child. He comes running up to me as soon as I get home. He follows me around the house and is always sitting or lying within a few feet of me and facing to see me. He cries when I am in the shower and gets up in my face when I am on the phone.
He is the best "little friend" I have. He lets me cry on him, laugh and sing to him and cuddle him.
He heals me!
I think it is that unconditional love and affection that meets a basic need in all of us. When I pick up my son at preschool, he runs fulls speed to give me a hug. It touches my heart in a way no other thing can. I know one day it won't be cool to run and hug your mom, so for now I am enjoying it!
Sometimes, it's what makes it possible to go on...Truly! Nothing like a dear sweet animal to look up at you and through that look in his/her eyes...you feel the love that is unconditional...And then, (with a cat), that purr and that fur sliding up against you---so happy to see you.
Nothing like it.
On the very worst of days, sometimes the wiggly dog is the only good part. In '04 I lost my brother unexpectedly and there were MANY days in a row when I felt my dog was the only thing keeping me here.
That sounds a bit overly dramatic, but it's very dark in the middle of grief, and he often was the only sunshine. It's a debt I can never fully repay.
Yes, a pet can cure the ills of the world and make your home an oasis when you walk in. There was always a cat in the window when I left for work and a cat there when I drove in from work. I've always said it was just a sentinel lookout to tell the others to straighten up before we got in the house, but it is nice to be greeted by a group, even if they are only wanting food.
I have found that our animals seem to know when things have gotten you down and mine always offer a soft paw, a light touch and a loving gaze. As one author said..."What did I ever do to deserve such devotion?"
I'm delighted to see that your life as a dog owner is going so well! They are the best aren't they? And all that love? Mine have made me more compassionate to others....I see all that love in their eyes and it makes me want to look at life that way too!
That would make a great missing you card for Hallmark! Frasier is SO cute. Making my way back to London on the train....wanted to say hello.
By the way, the doggie in the window is priceless!
Carmi and can't tell you how many times the greeting from our pets has helped my sour mood. And they play so perfectly into the "I feel sorry for myself blues". You know, where you look at them and say "Well at least YOU'RE glad to see me...YOU love me don't you?"
"Can a pet heal the world?"
Darn tootin' they can! ;D
What a great shot!
I don't know about healing the whole world, but I know that my kitties can certainly heal the humans in my house when they are feeling blue or stressed.
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