Some Days Need a Good Dog

This one is even later than Wednesday's post.

Between work, school, and a week filled with one-on-one conversations that seem to consume half my day, I've been walking into my office every morning knowing I have to hit the ground running.

It's been a good week.

A full week.

But I'm feeling it.

Today, for some reason, I found myself thinking about Salem.

Our old black-and-white Border Collie.

She wasn't just a pet.

She was a helper.

A watcher.

An alerter.

She never needed a leash unless the rules required one.

She simply knew where she belonged.

Usually...

Right beside me.

When life got busy, she'd quietly settle at my feet.

No fanfare.

No expectation.

Just there.

Looking up every now and then as if to remind me to take a breath before tackling whatever came next.

She watched everything.

The kids.

The yard.

The house.

Me.

Somehow, she always knew before I did when something wasn't quite right.

Fireworks were the hardest.

Long before I could admit to myself that I wasn't okay, Salem already knew.

She'd quietly walk over, sit squarely on my feet, and start licking my hands.

Not because she wanted attention.

Not because she wanted something.

Because she was gently pulling me back before I drifted too far.

Our current dog, Suki, does her very best.

And honestly...

She's pretty incredible.

If I'm in the office...

She's in the office.

If I get up...

She gets up.

If I move three feet...

She moves three feet.

She's my little shadow.

Suki has her own way of taking care of me.

She can hear thunder long before the rest of us know it's coming.

She starts shaking.

Looking for comfort.

Looking for one of us.

Somehow...

That pulls me back too.

Instead of Salem grounding me...

Suki reminds me to ground her.

They're different dogs.

Different personalities.

Different jobs.

But both, in their own way...

Have always known exactly what I needed.

The podcast assignment for school is finally coming together.

Ironically, I think I've had more fun recording it than writing the paper that goes with it.

Who knew a college assignment would involve setting up microphones, editing audio, and trying to sound like I knew what I was doing?

Truthfully...

I think I'm going to have fun with this one.

The weekend is already lining up to be a blur.

Thankfully, the house is still clean.

The kids earned that.

Tonight will probably involve pizza, everyone piled into the living room, and an episode or two of Good Eats.

Honestly...

That sounds just about perfect.

I'm still not sure what gaming looks like tonight.

I missed streaming this week.

I missed building in Valheim.

I missed just sitting down and talking with everyone for a while.

Maybe tonight.

Maybe this weekend.

We'll see.

For now...

I'm tired.

The kind of tired that sleep fixes.

I think that's a blessing.

Here's hoping you find a little time to slow down this weekend too.

I think we all have something that quietly keeps us grounded. Sometimes it's a routine. Sometimes it's a place. Sometimes it's another person. And sometimes, if we're lucky, it's a dog who somehow understands us better than we understand ourselves.

Looking back, I don't think Salem and Suki have ever had the same job. Salem always seemed to know when I needed her. She'd find her way to my feet before I even realized how far my mind had wandered. Suki is different. She hears thunder before any of us do, comes looking for comfort, and in helping her feel safe, she reminds me to slow down and find my own footing again. Different dogs. Different personalities. Different ways of loving the people they've been entrusted with.

Maybe that's one of the many ways we're reminded to stay present. Not because life suddenly becomes less busy, but because someone—or something—we love quietly asks us to stop, take a breath, and remember what matters. I think that's a pretty good way to head into a weekend.

Much love.

Stay safe.

Wash your damn hands.

And I will see you, next time.