William Southold | Opinion Columnist |The Southold Report
“Speaking fiction to power one story at a time.”
I don’t know if you’ve been following my recent posts about my wife’s dog, er, our dog, but things recently came to a decision point for me, and I am now willing to concede that perhaps I erred in my judgement about her. Our dog, that is. Just a bit.
Our dog Middie recently reached out to me with food for thought. I have come to see this as an honorable act, taking my well being under her consideration, and the advice she offered I have found to be actually quite nourishing, as food for thought goes. Why just today I called in and took the day off. The two of us, my wife and I, are going to take Middie to lunch, followed by a romp at the dog park. I don’t plan to romp, mind you, but I understand we are able to unleash the hound, as it were, and let Middie frolic with the other dogs. Middie had complained the whole two weeks or so while my wife was away that I never take her there, so I think Middie will see this as an act of contrition on my part, and view it favorably.
So I sprang the whole idea on Middie this morning before my wife got up, and this is how it went:
Me: Good morning Middie! How are you doing this lovely morning?
Middie actually took a step back, cocked her head a bit sideways, and drew her eyebrows down, a look that I interpreted as consternation.
Middie: I . . . am . . . fine. (then recovering) You seem chipper.
Me: Well I am! I’m feeling top-notch! I wanted to tell you, I’ve been giving what you told me the other day some thought. I think you are right. The world is bigger than politics, who’s up and who’s down, and there are finer things in this world to focus on. You can see for yourself that I am watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, of all things.
(It’s a marvelous cartoon. PBS. This one is about Daniel and Grandpere looking for buried treasure. That Daniel, one special tiger! Already I wish I was more like him. Certainly not my normal CNN fare this time of morning.)
Middie: And this isn’t just because the Democrats seemed to have had a good night last night, in Virginia and Kentucky?
Me: Oh no. I did watch Morning Joe earlier, and what you say is true . . .
This stopped me right there. How would Middie come by this knowledge first thing in the morning, I wondered.
Me: How did you know that? About the Dems?
Middie: You left your iPad in the bedroom. It’s my habit to check it, when I can, to see what kind of mood you might be in. You seem to have set it for unlimited news alerts and updates.
Well, she had already demonstrate that she knew how to use my iPhone, both for calls and Google, so this really didn’t surprise me. But I wanted to get back to my news for her.
Me: Very good, Middie, you have always been quite resourceful. A very resourceful member of the family, in fact!
Now I realized I was laying it on a bit thick. I tried to change my tack.
Me: Listen, I truly have thought about what you told me on Sunday. And I want you to know I appreciated it. It was very kind of you to bring it up. (Oh, oh. Tilting the sloop again.)
Middie: Thank you.
She then came over and put here feet up on me, something I wouldn’t normally allow. She looked me straight in the eyes.
Middie: I knew it was a risk, but a risk worth taking.
(I can only imagine she might have been worried about being booted out of the TV room, as I look back on it now. She returned to her sitting position in front of me.)
Me: Well, I have a surprise for you. I’ve called in and taken the day off. How would you like to go for lunch, and then to the dog park?
Middie: You’re taking me to lunch?
Me: Yes! Mrs. S and me. I know she takes you to lunch, I bet you have a favorite restaurant. What is it?
There was no hesitation here.
Middie: Banana Cafe & Piano Bar. No question. It’s down on 8th St. SE, not that far from Capitol Hill. Do you know it?
Me: Can’t say that I do.
Middie: Sometimes - when you’re out of town, and weather permits, outdoor seating, you understand, only way they let us dogs in, Mrs. S. takes me there with some of her friends. They have karaoke every Monday night. Those girls really get into it.
Me: My wife sings karaoke?
Middie: Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned it.
Me: No, no. That’s O.K.
Middie: I do love to sing along. Under my breath, of course.
Me: Of course.
Middie had told me previously that she wasn’t going to let on with anyone else the fact that she is perfectly fluent in spoken English. I wouldn’t be surprised if in other languages, as well.
Me: So it’s a date?
Middie: Absolutely!
With that Middie turned around and started to leave.
Middie: Oh. by the way. If you feel you must back a horse, put your money on Buttigieg. Mayor Pete, baby, all the way!
Me: May I ask why?
Middie: If you are going to follow politics, at least pick out someone fun to watch. Someone who naturally expresses positive thoughts. And he knows how to explain things, too.
Me: I thought you didn’t follow the stuff.
Middie. Listen. The stuff follows you. It’s just a matter of living with it. In a healthy way.
Me: Oh, right. Thank you. I’ll take that under advisement.
Middie: Just sayin’ . . . (she sang back to me, as she left.)
So there you have it. My new attitude, my new approach to, allow me to say it, my dog.
Maybe next time, instead of sending my wife, I’ll go to visit our kids and grandkids. I happen to know one of them has a special bond with Daniel Tiger. We would have something to talk about. Maybe Middie can help me learn French, something I’ve always wanted to do. The youngest, just over one, is able to repeat back French words he has learned from Daniel. And another, about two and a half, can wing a ball out there almost better than I have ever been able to do. Middie would enjoy that. I’m not saying I would go alone, but certainly, the three of us.
Thank you Middie. A whole new world for me to learn about. Karaoke?
It is not too optimistic for me to add, I think, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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