Fall Leaves and the Black Dog

It's almost Black Dog's birthday and what a wonderful dog she has blossomed in to. Black dog came to us on Halloween, a rescue dog that like all rescue dogs, rescues more than she is rescued, loves more than she is loved and slows us down to appreciate it all.

I wanted to write about Black Dog today. She has become independent, laying for hours in the backyard, protecting us from ferocious stray cats and squirrels as large as kangaroos (this is no exaggeration). She leans into us and lingers for the ear scratch or head rub. If we don't acknowledge, she lifts our hand up with her nose and positions it. If it's 4:00 in the afternoon, this is also the same sign for "Take me for a walk!" She and Vegas have become friends, leaning into each other during the naps or evening sleep.

The most joyous event, the one thing she does that can lift our spirits no matter how gloomy, is dance. She dances in big bounding circles and I swear, she is almost airbourne. She does the dance for dinner and when you come home, no matter how long you've been gone.

I work near the Quaker Oat's factory and I walked to work one day, with the air full of the smell of warm, maple syrup and yellow leaves spinning all around in the windy, magical air. Fall has arrived early this year in our part of Iowa. I think we have may have a couple more weeks of vibrant fall colors on the trees, one of my favorite times of year.

Here comes my Black Dog, with her bright orange collar, dressed for the season. We have had a big year, Black Dog and I. I think we are both past the half way point in our lives and we know what it is to lose ourselves, find our way back, find peace. I question why I have to make this journey more than once, but make it I do.

And at the end of every journey, whether it is a journey of a day, a week, a month or a year, there is always a Rescue Dog at my side, showing me the way. A rescue dog, showing me love.