Last fall, we welcomed Olive into our home & our hearts. She came to live with us in September when she was about 7 weeks old.
Then the snow fell.
Lots and lots of snow…and ice…and wind to polish the ice. All winter, Olive has been either cozily inside our house or happily frolicking in the snow in our yard. She only ever saw the five of us. Whenever a new person did come by the house, she’d bark bark bark bark…until you can hear her all over the park.
We figured, she’s just a puppy. That’s normal, right?
Now, it’s spring.
Still, it’s warmer out and sunny most days. People are walking down the street, past our yard more often. And Olive completely looses her cool about four times a day.
We may have driven her mad this week.
On Monday, our little house-bound hound had a vet check. On Tuesday, she got her first haircut at the groomer. On Wednesday, we took her with us on an unplanned drive into Anchorage. During each car ride, she cried and whimpered and yelped and clung and generally freaked out. You’d a thought we were poking her with pins!
Until we passed people…and then she’d bark bark bark bark…until you can hear her all over the park.
But now, I totally get it.
Her world just exploded.
She never knew, or even dreamed that the universe could extend past the boundaries of what she can see just beyond our fence. This week that notion was obliterated. She discovered there’s a whole giant universe she didn’t even know was there.
Terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
I thought about what she was experiencing and thought how terrifying, mind-blowing that would be if it happened to us. Then, it dawned on me. That has happened to me. And I’d bet money it’s happened to you too.
We were born into boxes.
We were taught that this was the way things are supposed to be. And we found ways to get comfortable in those boxes. Until something happened.
Maybe you read just the right words at the right time in your life. Maybe you saw a tragic news story that really struck a chord. Maybe you lost your job and couldn’t find another one. Maybe you had kids.
Whatever it is, the result is the same.
That comfortable little box dissolved away and you were faced with jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, mind-numbing awe.
The possibilities in this big new world are endless and the implications are imperceptibly huge.
It’s terrifying and exhilarating. At the same time.
All you know is, there’s no way in hell you’re ever getting back in that box.
No comments yet.