Wiley's Wisdom

Joy: From the Ground Up

Smiling Eyes January 24, 2015

I didn’t mean it. I couldn’t help it. I don’t know why it happened. And I’m sorry now.

I did a terrible thing last night. I know I can’t take it back, but I certainly wish I could. It was bath time, which I’ve recently shared has become something of an event around the halls of my forever home. It involves the nakie baby run down the hallway to the bathroom where bath time ensues before bedtime. It’s a whole lot of silliness that breeds joy, from the ground up. Morning love

Until last night. I don’t know what came over me really. One second, we were playing chase and the next minute he had little pink lines running down either side of his body. From me.

It’s important to note that I would never intentionally hurt him. Ever since the day he came home from the hospital all those months ago, I vowed to protect and love him as my own. That’s why I’ve survived the tail yanking, fur pulling and occasional eye gouging that has ensued with him since he figured out he loves me too.

So when I jumped on top of him as he journeyed down the hallway to the bathroom last night, I don’t know what got into me. But that didn’t matter. That doesn’t matter. Because those little pink lines running from his tummy to his calves on either side of his little man body were my fault.

My paws didn’t break skin. And he didn’t cry. But that doesn’t change the fact that I hurt my little person. We all went about the routine as usual, but I thought about it a lot afterward.

It’s terrible that it happened. I wish I could take it back. But sometimes you just can’t. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we say and do things that hurt those we love. Intentions aside, the pain is real.

Fortunately for me so is forgiveness. After the initial disappointment from both of my beloved forever parents wore off, it was like nothing ever happened. And when Carter saw me for the first time when he woke up this morning, his face lit up just like it always does. “Doggie,” he said, with smiling eyes. And all was right in the world.

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If You Believe May 1, 2014

Filed under: Man's Best Friend — Wiley Schmidt @ 9:57 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I saw something today I can’t back. It’s one of those things in life you can’t un-see. Or un-hear. Or, in my dear forever mom’s case, she can’t take back. She peed herself a little today. I watched it happen. And apparently it was something that just happens. Or so the infamous “they” say.

It started out innocent enough. It was bath time. Carter was happy. Mom was happy. Her friend Dorian was happy. And so it was bath time and we were all happy and then it happened. Dorian said something funny and I don’t even remember what it was. Neither does mom. Certainly Carter doesn’t remember such things. But he kicked (happily) and mom and Dorian laughed and the next thing you know…well…Happy Blogging!

I don’t know how to describe it other than to say it was funny. For me, maybe more than mom. But I realized shortly thereafter that might be the point of such things. Sometimes there are things in life that don’t make sense. These things frequently take us by surprise – good or bad, these are the moments that stick with us. That make us remember things. Silly as they may be, it doesn’t matter.

Because in that moment I was reminded of the importance of believing in people. Sure, they will let you down from time to time. They may even pee themselves. But they care. Ultimately that is what really matters anyway, right? At least that was the case according to American anthropologist Margaret Mead.

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world,” she said. “For indeed that’s all who ever have.”

I saw something today. It was silly and embarrassing and my mom would probably kill me if she knew I was telling you. But alas, I am sharing the story because I feel the lesson is worthwhile. Sometimes you need to believe there is humor in this world. Sometimes you need to believe. It’s as simple as that.