Worth the Wait

/ roughwighting

pride of medeira, san francisco bay, walk, dog, friendship We walk together, in harmony, almost as if we’re holding hands, but we’re not. However, he looks at me often, his deep brown eyes saying so much without his mouth releasing a word. Could anyone ask for a better companion? For a better friend?

But of course, there’s so much more to the relationship than that.

As we walk, he looks over his territory with pride. His name, I tease him, should be Heathcliff or Darcy. He just moves on, pointing at the Pride of horse, nature, walking, friendship, dogsMadeira in the meadow, strutting over to say hello to the horses in the pasture, urging me to run instead of walk along the paved path around the nearby farm. I sigh, then allow my thigh muscles to tighten as I follow him.

His gait is so strong and sure-footed. I run like a girl, he runs like a …. Well, he doesn’t seem to mind and, in fact, even though he can run hundreds of yards in front of me, he stops and looks behind his shoulder to make sure I’m coming along. I think that’s what endears me the most to him. He could make it on his own. He could be perfectly happy and free without me, yet he chooses to slow down, to wait, to watch me with a gleam in his eye, so I can catch up.

dog, golden, eyes, friendshipIt’s that look in his eye that makes me feel so valued, so necessary in his life. As he stands there, still and strong, waiting for me, there is sure certainty in his expression that I am worth the wait.

I reach him, and he opens his mouth with a big wide grin. Somehow, I know I have passed a test. I stroke him, and he dashes on ahead again, ears bent back, eyes slanted from the breeze, mouth turned up into such joy my heart leaps, and I run faster.

Suddenly, I am ahead of him. He stops as quickly as he began, tail wagging, nose tilted down into the ripe lime green grass. I call, he ignores me. The smell must be from nirvana, like chocolate to a woman, diesel oil to a man. I call him, his tail wags faster, but he still focuses on the meadow grass.

I stand still. He’s worth the wait.

dog, golden retriever, friendship, woman and dog

A (wo)man’s best friend.

27 thoughts on “Worth the Wait”

  1. This woman’s best friend is also fixated with the green grass of spring. Beautiful dog—beautiful post 🙂

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    • Good good goody. That’s what I wanted the reader to think – ahh, a hunky man. I was afraid Henry’s eyes would spoil the fun too soon.

      Ha. But he IS a hunky dog man, isn’t he?

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  4. Glad you let him stop and smell the grass. That’s his reward for being such a good dog. Thanks for evoking such wonderful memories of my own goldies.

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  6. Doggy love is the best! Thanks for sharing. Still snowy up here in the north, but Nuala makes do with her ‘seal’ impression and otherwise snuffling through the snow ’til the metaphorical cows come home 🙂

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  11. Someone sent me this today, Pam. By your lovely post, you obviously agree!
    DOGS ARE OUR WHOLE LIVES, BECAUSE THEY MAKE OUR LIVES WHOLE.

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  13. Just loved this one!! My sister, Lynne, has a Yorkie, April, we both just adore!! April just turned 4!! I’ll be pet-sitting while Lynne is in FL for about 2 weeks!! I can’t wait!!

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