Last month our home welcomed a new family member, our first son and my namesake.
He arrived weighing in at 4 pounds, 4 ounces, brown eyes, 16 inches long, with a full head of hair. And as luck would have it, he immediately began chewing my car keys, socks, and nearly everything in sight (his sight that is).
Paul Junior (or Baby Paul as we call him—that part of the name is a longer story) is a 6-month-old Silky Terrier, and, yes, we did name him Paul Junior. He is the son I never wanted. And anyone with a Silky Terrier knows, they need a lot of attention or they will chew all kinds of things.
Thank goodness we live near one of the many walking/bike paths in Naperville. This public space was a bit of foreign territory to me, but with Paul Junior’s needing many walks (good for me, too), we have been exploring many parts of the parks, paths and the Riverwalk.
Naperville has more than 59 miles of paved, mulched, paver, gravel, mowed, and dirt paths and walkways. All open for the public use and enjoyment. These paths are created in a variety of ways, through conversion of existing public land or parks, easements on land owned by utility companies or other government bodies, purchase of land, and the dreaded taking of private land through eminent domaign. No matter how the existing paths were created, and for that matter how future paths are created, they all have one thing in common. They are owned by the public, for the use by the public.
And, with proper governance, will continue to be available for all walks of dog and human for years to come.
And for now, Paul Junior—at least until he stops chewing everything— will walk as many miles as I can, helping keep me out of the dog house.
