It's the Simple Things in Life


When momma takes me for a walk, we see neighbors out and about and other people and doggies walking around the neighborhood.  I hear my momma say, "Hi there," and I show my joy by wagging my tail.  "Hi Mattie!" is the greeting that normally comes my way, and sometimes I get a little treat.

Around dinner time there is a nice gentleman named Terry, who lives a block or so away, who walks by our house and I often get all excited around the time he is suppose to walk by.... "MattieDog, stop all that wiggling, I'll let you out," momma says as she opens the door to let me out to wait at the edge of my driveway for my neighbor.  Terry often sits on the grassy knoll at the end of our drive way with me, pulls out his little pocket knife and slices an apple he brought with him on his walk, and shares little pieces with me as we sit peacefully together on our cool lawn.

Terry had a stroke a couple of years ago, and as part of his therapy he walks laps around our neighborhood three times a day.  Every time momma sees Terry she say's "Howdy!" and Terry always says, "Coming by your house is the best part of my walks!"  Sometimes momma has dinner ready and takes it outside and we wait together for Terry; and when he finally rounds the corner to our house, we all sit on the lawn together.  We eat dinner on paper plates and listen to Terry as he shares stories about his life and tells us that happiness is a choice, to wallow in self-pitty is a horrible waste of time, "it's powerless and changes nothing."  Momma agrees and shares stories with Terry.  I eat my apple slices and take a nap already fully aware of the power of choices, and am grateful that my momma and Terry spend time together strengthening their bonds as friends.

Life is a funny thing really.  The simple joys, like a cool breeze on a summer day, are often overlooked due to the complexity cultivated throughout the years. Momma says, "I remember when I was five MattieDog," as she sits on the cool grass of our yard, looking up in to the sky. "I'd lay under a tree and watch the sun shine off the leaves of the tree and think 'how magical, all those little tiny leaves!'" Then she pulls me under a tree and we lay there together for hours,  looking up at all the leaves flowing in the summer breeze.  Magical.... life is truly magical! I hope you strip back some of the complexity you've cultivated throughout the years and simply enjoy life.

With love - MattieDog