Me and My …

… Have you ever heard of that song “Me and My Shadow.” (sorry, an ear-worm if ever there was one) I need to go back and read the lyrics because I am sure this song is about a man (or woman) and his dog. It is an old song – from the 20’s I think.

I am willing to bet that your dogs do this too:

The moment I reach for even the slightest of my outside gear (like my little first scarf) TonTon (Border Collie)  races to the kitchen and sits there to guard the door in case I get away without him,  and Boo (Blue Heeler cross)  leaps up and glues himself to my side. While Ton guards the door Boo will not let me take a step without him. He tracks me through the house pace for pace. If I move right he moves right, left he goes left.  He adjusts his position by throwing his bottom across first, to land it on my shin, then shuffles his  front paws across. Watching me from the fartherest corner of his eye. If I am still he is against my leg  facing forward.

He will follow me through the house up and down the basement steps, DOGGING my every step. When I stand still to pull on extra socks or pull up the second layer of yoga pants he is right there. Against my leg, facing forward.  Once I am ready to step into my boots we are joined by the door minder. I stand at the door gathering my buckets. They sit. I open the door. They wait. Watching me. Tails a quiver.  Eyes locked on my body. I say (very softly) “Ton, see Sheila” and Ton is up and out the door within a milli -second.  I shut the door.  Boo and I watch Ton as he races down the steps and bolts for the barn. Then I pause – to give him a head start. Then I open the door and look at Boo. Boo waits and I wait.  Both facing forward. Eye corner  to eye corner, shin to shin. “BooBoo, ” I whisper and he shoots through  the doorway like a horse out of a gate racing as fast as he can to catch up with Ton who has already disappeared from view. Then I follow.  I shut the door.

By the time I get to the steps with my buckets both dogs are back. They whirl about so there is one dog on either side of their woman. Ton is genteel as he gently  aligns himself with me. Boo’s body shrieks around like a cross country motorbike in full  skid, whirling his front wheel in one spot while flinging his rear into position but all in mid air then screeching to a halt and dropping to the ground perfectly placed against my leg. They sit. Very pleased with themselves.

Then with great dignity and a word of command we process towards our afternoons work followed by two turkeys, a peacock and a Tima in full – blown song.

My shadows.

Of course like so many of my blog pages the words have nothing to do with the images. The pictures are all about the twins Molly and Tahiti waiting for their dinner and the big birds.

I hope you have a lovely day.

Love celi