Life Lessons the Chloe Taught Me
Meet Chloe, our thirteen-and-a-half-year-old four-legged daughter. She's been an integral part of our lives for eleven years. We first met her at the Oakville Humane Society, where she was recused from a tough start in life. It was love at first sight. She is so cool!
Over our eleven beautiful years, we've gone on close to 5,000 walks, and there were lots of cathartic moments. I often take my camera (don't act so surprised 🤓). More often than not - there was lots of time to think. In the winter, I would get the shift I call, "Get out of the warm bed, just to slip and slide on the frozen sidewalk hoping to pick up some dog sh.. to warm my hand shift."
The walks provided lots of time to put things in perspective and have been an exceptional way to start my days. Want some graphic perspective? Well, after picking up dog poop first thing in the morning - just how complex will the other tasks at hand be?
I've devised a series of familiar lessons, just repackaged and from the viewpoint of watching Chloe in action.
Keep a Routine and Stay on Schedule
I've often said that Chloe and Donna are mutually co-dependent on each other, but once in a while, they both let me in and are nice to me.
Chloe is pleasant to me at 6:00 am - just before her morning walk. Then she's nice to me at 7:00 (her breakfast). At 11:45, she's a lobbying machine for her noon meal. Then, at 3:00 pm - if Donna is otherwise occupied, we go for the second walk of the day. Chloe loves, loves, loves her walks.
Remember the early lobbying session in advance of the 5:00 pm dinner. Then, of course, snack at 8:00 pm. We can almost tell time by her lobbying efforts.
Love Unconditionally
You can tell that Chloe is ecstatic when we get home, but she has a favourite, and I can get over it 🤗 Greet your family friends, and there is no one else you would rather be with.
We're going for a Walk, not a March! Stop and smell the Roses, the bushes, the trees, the hydrants, the fence posts, and other dogs and benches.
Play hard, but rest and sleep just as hard as you play.
You can just look at their eyes to connect when you speak to someone.
Be fiercely protective of those you love.
Wherever you go, leave your mark (well, I had to have some fun)
Above all, live your life with joie de vivre and have fun!