A Man and His Dog

     I don’t particularly enjoy my morning exercise. But at my age I’m not going to stay heart-healthy without it. So several times a week I pass a gentleman jogger about my age and his yellow lab pup coming up the long hill toward our house while my black lab and I are heading down. Though my Cooper is four he acts like he’s still a six-month old pup. Way too much energy and enthusiasm. Not enough discipline. Jane and I have wondered on more than one occasion whether he’s too rambunctious for us...but he was a Christmas present to me from our kids and well, you know…how can we get rid of him?
     I guess Cooper finally decided he wanted to play with the other pup because he suddenly lunged out toward the yellow lab and barked at him. Mr. Up-hill-jogger went ballistic. The yellow lab wagged his tail. Embarrassed and a little angry I tried to get control of Cooper. It was over in seconds.

That was about a year ago. The jogger and his dog have passed me many times and I don’t think he has looked at me, smiled or returned my hellos. Well, honestly, I haven’t said, “hello” very often either.

     I have figured out however, that a rather attractive younger looking woman who sometimes jogs with said dog is his wife. She’s very friendly. Yesterday Jane and I met the husband and wife with their dog in the park. She smiled and said hello to both of us. He didn’t appear to notice. I said to Jane, “How in the world does such a friendly lady wind up with such a curmudgeon?”

    This morning I saw the two of them. It was dark when I passed them in the park. The Mrs. and I greeted one another. The dogs sniffed and wagged their tails. We passed and the thought occurred to me again – how does she put up with him?

     About a half hour later with the sun peeking over the mountain tops and a light fog drifting off the waters of the Puget Sound, guess who I met coming up the hill? Yep, the ol’ Curmudgeon and his dog. Not his wife. We were about twenty feet apart when he stopped, looked at me and said, “I’ve been meaning to apologize for my outburst against you some time ago…”

Ouch!

Lord, have mercy.

How do you put up with me?