I don’t know what mom expected me to do. There we were, relaxing in the hammock together on a beautiful Sunday evening. She was reading and I was cuddled up against her sniffing the air. All was well with the world. That is, until I ruined the moment.
There they were, playing and climbing one of the very same trees to which the hammock was attached. The family of squirrels who live in my backyard (and frequently taunt me from their place of safety outside the reach of my lead) simply could not go unnoticed. So I did what any dog would do. I attacked. I bounded out of the hammock in what can only be described as another one of my ill-fated attempts to take flight into the tree. The way I saw it my odds were much better than usual because I was already a few feet off the ground from my place in the hammock.
But mom didn’t see it that way. After she rounded me up from my failed attempt to show those squirrels who’s boss, I saw the physical and emotional aftermath of my escape from solitude. My dramatic exit made her spill her water all over herself, her book and her (not-so-Smart)phone. Fortunately no one was harmed in the making of this story, but I know I ultimately ruined our otherwise peaceful time. 
And (while I am tempted to argue that I only did what is in my nature and it was really actually the squirrel family’s fault for trespassing) I was immediately sorry for the apparent devastation I’d caused when I saw the pathetically defeated look on mom’s face. Any and all reasons aside, I found myself in quite the quandary. I don’t know what she expected me to do. Certainly the squirrels could not be ignored.
That’s when it hit me. Sometimes what’s in our nature gets us in trouble. It happens to the best of us, and innocent people get hurt in the process. It reminds me a little of a story I’ve heard mom recalling about her and her younger sister when they were little people. Whenever mom’s little sister did something naughty, she would say “I’m sorry now” in the cutest and most sincere voice imaginable. How can you not forgive that?
Therein lies the moral of my flying hammock dog story. Sometimes it doesn’t matter why we do what we do. If innocent people are hurt in the process there is only one way to make it right. They just need to hear it. I’m sorry now. And since us canines can’t say it, we find ways to show it. So I may have ruined my peaceful moment with mom in the hammock. But I made it up to her with lots of love and cuddles and it was like it never even happened.
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Awww. I’m sure your mom forgives you! How can she not? Much love, The Scottie Mom.
You’re absolutely right – she forgave me thanks to my cuddling abilities. It’s hard to turn that away. 🙂
one of THE funniest tales from a dog’s perspective ever.. I cannot stop grinning
Yay! This is a job well done then in my book! Thank you!
Dear Wiley-As Jack Henry says “it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.” That motto has gotten him out of a lot of scrapes. Sometimes a dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do. But clearly you are so cuddly it would be hard to stay mad at you for very long- be well Wiley!
I fear you may be right about my cuddling abilities. Mom definitely didn’t stay mad at me for long at all. 😉
Wiley, my boy, sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Stay cool, Dude. 🙂
You’re right about that – we can be our own worst enemies! High paw and lots of love to you and the family!
Oh dear….poor Wiley, poor Wiley’s Mom xx
Oh dear…exactly. What an ordeal! 🙂
Oh, goodness, Wyles! I thought you were going to report that the hammock flipped and your Mom crashed to the ground – phew! You are a conscientious, loving dog doing what dogs were designed to do…. Clearly, it was the squirrels’ fault.
Dear HuntMode,
It’s like you were there! Indeed, the hammock ALMOST flipped, ALMOST causing my mom to crash to the ground. Then I would have been even more sorry. Fortunately that did not actually happen, and I am grateful. Darn those squirrels and their bad behavior! 🙂
The other day Donna was trying to get may attention by pushing her nose under my arm and pushing up, and that nearly made me topple a cup of coffee too! But I was lucky the cup teetered a little but didn’t spill. And yes, Donna was very sorry afterwards too. What’s done is done. Next time look out for dangerous glass or cups of water before launching in action! Or at least, the humans can hope 😛 Glad you all lived to tell the tale!
It sounds like Donna and I are cut from the same cloth of troublemaking. It is important for our people to know we don’t mean to cause trouble…sometimes these things happen and we are truly sorry. It’s the way of the world. Send Donna my best! 🙂
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Wiley you are sorry, that is the main thing. If you could teach my cats the words “sorry” and “make up for it with lots of cuddles” I would be more than pleased. I do not think that those words exist in meow. It was so sweet how you compensated for your squirrel chasing doggie nature antics.
I fear you may be right that the words “sorry” and “make up for it with cuddles” might not translate into meow, but I also know your felines love you dearly regardless of the occasional sass that runs through their veins. 😉
I’ll never understand why we just can’t fly?? I try and try, but I just can’t make it happen. Bummer about the aftermath of your attempt, W. But I have a feeling you’ll try to fly again. I know I will!!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I know!!! We should definitely just be able to fly. That would make causing trouble chasing things so much more convenient. Sometimes in my dreams I can fly, but I know those aren’t real. 😦 Here’s to flying, friend!
Lots of love to you and mom,
Wiles
Oh Wiley, you are so funny! You are so right that it is in our nature to chase things, and even though we feel bad (sometimes) afterward, we’ll do it again cause that’s what us dogs do best.
I’ll give you an example: Mommy took me out back to “go potty”, and when we came around the corner of the house a little baby deer was standing in our neighbors yard. I pee’d, then sat down to watch it, nicely. Mommy was so proud of me for not making a fuss over the deer, but we see them here all the time. Two seconds later after being praised for being good, I almost ripped my Mommy’s hand and arm off by chasing the white butterfly that fluttered past me.
See, it happens all the time! (wink)
Love, Nikita
Dear Nikita,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me! That sounds very much like something I would do. Just when you think you’ve passed the test, in comes those darn beautiful butterflies. 🙂
We do what we do. 🙂
Lots of love,
Wiles
I keep trying to tell Mommy that you should know that I love to chase butterflies! Silly Mommy! She knows that!
Silly Mommy indeed. And people think its us that are hard to train. 😉
A squirrel is a good reason to do what a dog has to do. I’m sure your mom still loves you and if the (not-so-) smartphone loves you not – don’t worry about it. :o)
I am in complete agreement with you about the (not so Smart)phone. I don’t care if it loves me not. 🙂
You and Trev are in the same boat…Those squirrels are such trouble makers!!!!
I love that about Trev – great minds think alike. It’s definitely the squirrels’ fault – not us. 😉
This is a great lesson that we always drill into our children’s brains…yet it somehow gets lost when we become grown-ups! Every adult needs “good citizen” reminders like this! 🙂
I think this happens a lot with little people – it’s like they grow out of their distinctly prominent sense of wisdom as they get older! 😉 You’re right though— that’s why we need reminders every now and then.
Lots of love, dear Jessica!
Wiley
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
Everybody has squirrels in our lives. What are yours?
The vision of that incident was making me laugh out loud! It is too bad you don’t have a video of it, Wiley! You and my dog, Brownie, would love to play together, I think. She does the same thing to squirrels in the yard! I know you were sorry, though, and that is a beautiful story.