50 F
Naperville
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Real Life – Out and About

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Among the perks of dog adoption is the mandate to walk a couple of times a day.

Sophie and I have developed our strolling wardrobes to make these excursions as pleasing as possible. My favorite is our matching yellow rain slickers, which enhance our visibility and moderate canine clean-up afterward. I bought some jazzy flowered Wellingtons the other day—for me, not for the dog. Wet, muddy sneakers have a way of spoiling my mood, and then there’s the matter of goose leavings.

My in-laws kept sheep, donning special farm boots and coveralls whenever a trip to the barn was in order. These sheep were also in charge of “mowing” the lawn around the house, and though that was a brilliant way to cut down on yard work, actually walking on the grass after they had grazed was out of the question. It’s the same downside of the parks being taken over by Canada geese. Consequently, we keep a boot tray by the back door for outdoor shoes. Besides, we’d rather wear slippers indoors, and it’s amazing how much cleaner the floors stay this way.

I saw a man exercising his pet today from the comfort of a bicycle. He was pedaling somewhat slowly, and the trotting dog was attached toward the back wheel to a sturdy gizmo that looked something like a riding crop. This great plan has some obvious advantages, including more exercise for the pooch and less effort for the human. If I tried this, however, I would end up like the young kid in front of my house this afternoon, with skinned palms and banged up knees. A squirrel, a cyclist, a runner, or a fellow dog: our walks are fraught with enticements that only a leather leash and extensive parent-pooch training can quell.

Me, I’d rather ride my bike through all its gears and watch the world fly by. Spring has arrived! There’s so much to see. (c)

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Patti Koltes
Patti Koltes
Real Life © by Patti Koltes. Contact her at pkoltes@gmail.com.

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