Me And My Shadow...

Do you know that feeling when you have such a connection with another breathing being that life just moves along seamlessly? You both want to go to the same places, do the same activities, are up for the same adventures, enjoy the same foods. It’s so refreshing. You don’t have to come to an agreement or, god forbid, compromise, to make the other happy because you both have the same mindset. Well, folks, that’s what life is like with Leo, my hound.

I’ve had many a dog in my life. I’ve had giant lumbering dogs, small, spry dogs, bird dogs, water dogs, running dogs, and one large and beastly dog. Now I have Leo, an Airedale Terrier who doubles as my shadow. If I go upstairs, he goes upstairs. If I forget something and return downstairs, he’s right at my heels. And, at the expense of getting too personal here, he even follows me into the bathroom, positioning himself right at my feet with the hopes of getting his head scratched. Of course, I oblige.

My husband informs me that on those rare occasions when I leave Leo home, he sits by the door and stares out the window, awaiting my return. If my husband brings him outside, Leo sits in our driveway and waits. My husband also insists that Leo can differentiate my car from others, and upon hearing my car approach the house, Leo bounds into the air, all four paws off the ground, while shaking each part of his body in every direction all at once. My husband’s final proclamation on the subject is that this is pathetic.

Pathetic or not, it fills me with joy. What’s not to like? As I am writing this, me and my shadow are on our way to Maine to visit my mother. If I choose to go for a walk, I always have a willing companion. Want to go for a hike up a mountain? Overnight backpacking adventure? Drive to the store? Go for a swim? Take a nap? Leo’s right there with me, no questions asked! Leo even has his own designated spot in my Jeep, right behind me in the rear passenger seat. Sometimes I feel like I’m driving Miss Daisy. Of course, Ms. Daisy didn’t rejoice in hanging her head out the window, lips and ears flapping in the wind.

Don’t get me wrong, I would never want or expect my other life companion – the husband - to act the same way. That would be a complete bore. Somehow, having another human being dote on you like a canine companion is about as appealing as sitting next to a screaming toddler during a five-hour flight - a total nightmare. My husband and I have many things in common but not everything in common. And while there are many activities that we share, there are some to which we say to each other ‘have a good time, love you, see you when you get back.’ It works just fine.

With luck and God’s blessing, I hope to have Leo in my life for many years to come. So, stay tuned, there will be more adventures with Leo in the future. And for all you dog lovers out there, I know that you know what I am talking about!