Friday
Rain! Thunder and lightning as I went to bed last night. Then came rain. A good rain. All night. I went to sleep smiling, woke up smiling and stayed smiling until I went into the kitchen.
Water was dripping from the ceiling fan. That was a disappointment. I called Ron, a friend with a roofing business and he said he would send someone out, and did. He patched the leak.
I met Ron training dogs. He is a great guy; honest to a fault and I like him alot. In addition to seeing about the roof we set up a time to meet Monday to catch up on old times. I'm looking forward to that. He'll laugh at Duke. He looks so tough and he is so skittish.
It was cool--in the 60's--so Duke and I headed out for a walk when the rain stopped. Having been pent up so long Duke was ecstatic. We walked to Shriner Lake. Duke splashed around in the water like a little puppy. A woman jogged by with a huge grin. "Isn't this great!," she said. We all need a break from the heat.
At home there were several calls about Jim's death. No one expected it. No one understands. No one ever does. I'm no different. The best I can do is understand that there are many things I'll never understand. The saying goes, "Man proposes, God disposes." The Tralfamadorians say, "So it goes." Why did Jim die? I don't know. I will accept his death--but not without making my objections known to God. He permits such things.
I have always told those dealing with "unfair" events that they should tell God they are angry; he knows anyway. We should get it out and not let it fester. Keeping it in will eat you up.
Thunder and lightning,
then sun and blue sky--still
the tree has fallen.
Duke and I made a quick trip to the grocery before it warmed up. When we got home I sat on the porch swing and read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. An excellent book. While I read Duke brought his frisbee. I'd toss it; he'd chase it and bring it back, etc. We were both in good spirits.
I went in to edit the blog. Duke stayed out. Then things fell apart. After a time I got up to look for him. He wasn't there. He was over at Jimmy and Ashley's house. A friend of theirs was visiting and brought his chocolate Lab. He was jumping in the water. Duke, having been taught by Jeanne's daughter Tracy and her two dogs, figured it was OK,too.
I called him home, put him in the house, and went back to talk to Jimmy. He had been surprised when Duke came over. He hadn't done it before. He promised to shoo him home. I explained that I would have to put the shock collar back on Duke and retrain. Jimmy understood. I just wish Jeanne and Tracy did. It sucks for Duke. He's not a bad dog--but he is badly confused. It sucks for me, too. I don't want to use the collar, but better that than have him wander off and get run over or picked up by the pound.
Once that was finished I read another interesting book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon. The central character of the story, Christopher, is the narrator and writer of the book. He is autistic. I have spent a great deal of time with a nephew who is also autistic. Haddon has done a great job capturing how some autistic children reason. A splendid concept well executed. It was two AM when I finished.
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