6/23/12 Puppy on the
Road
Stay awake, stay curious, pay attention to what life
brings and what lessons are there, and do not wring meaning out of events when
meaning is not there for you. So what
about this?
 |
| The dog looked like this |
This afternoon, on the Interstate
somewhere in Ohio, traffic slowed suddenly and dramatically. We looked ahead on the road and saw a pulled
over pickup truck, a man getting out of the truck and onto the highway, and
then we saw the reason for the confusion - a little Chihuahua mix, tail between its legs,
galloping in a panic all over the road.
We stopped, other cars stopped, a semi stopped but not before narrowly
missing the dog. The pickup driver wisely
retreated to his truck as the dog zig-zagged farther down the road. Then, this little dog with a rhinestone
collar veered off the highway, down a grassy embankment and disappeared from
view. Now her family would have to
decide what to do.
I have no idea how that little dog got out of the truck
and onto the road, but the whole frightening incident made me aware of these
things: 1) we have seen no car accidents in this long trip. None. 2)
Crazy awful things happen in just a moment of inattention. 3) I am not spending enough time begin
grateful for all of the traveling mercies we have experienced in the last many
days.
 |
| In Fremont Ohio tonight |
We’ve entered the last time zone change. The radio and TV stations now begin with W
instead of K. The rivers are flowing in
an unfamiliar direction. Carl’s Junior
Restaurants are called Hardee’s. I don’t
recognize most of the trees. License
plates are all from states very far away from home. The toll road system is confusing. We are one night away from our new home. One night away from a daily dose of the
darling child who calls me Oma. One
night away from the beginning of the biggest adventure of this time of our
lives. One night away the creative
challenge of making a nest out of an unfamiliar space. One night away from life as it will be.
All interior candles are lit, and I hope the little dog
finds its way back to its family.
