Philosophy: point of view

Self-tutoring about life: the tutor shares a funny tale.

We have one car. Some mornings I end up with it, but my wife needs it to drive herself and the kids home after school. Sometime before then, I drive it to her work, then walk back home. It’s about a 10-minute walk.

Today, walking home thence, I saw two dogs across the street. I’m not afraid of dogs, but those two might intimidate someone who is. They’re tall and fit. Their heads are waist-high.

Approaching, I realized that nobody would have cause for concern. The dogs completely ignored me. They were communicating with each other at the end of their driveway, like two kids might do.

I’m not drawn to dogs. However, I recognize good training when I see it. To have a couple of big, fit dogs, untied, who ignore passers-by, and stay within their property, I’d say is a feat. I would have complimented their owner for it, had he been there. However, he was back in his workshop; I heard the power tools as I walked by.

About twenty yards past, I heard his voice behind me: You two…get back here! He wasn’t really angry, but rather annoyed, I guess, that the dogs had wandered to the edge of their yard.

Ironic, eh? I thought the dogs were being a couple of princes, while their owner was a little less than pleased with them.

I’m sure his annoyance soon passed, however: you can tell from across the street that those dogs are well cared for. The shine of their coats, and the limber way they move, says it all. I don’t doubt they have Christmas stockings;)