Slight Detour: Saturday Slight

This photo was taken near McArthur Lake yesterday afternoon. It's one of my favorite places to go looking for photos.

The possibilities were fairly limited because of all the snow. Plus, the parking area near the dock has not been plowed out.

While moving slowly along the road on the north end of the lake, I took my time and few photos.

I took my time because the road is pretty rough with a need to navigate varying amounts of hard snow mounds and ice.

Still, it was a pretty drive. While on my way out, I met Bill who was on his way to the Wyman Wildlife Refuge to do some snow shoeing.

He, too, noted how limiting some of our favorite spots are because of no places to park.

It will be nice when and if some of this snow decides to melt away.

We're supposed to get more tomorrow, but then comes another stretch of dry weather. I'll take it.

Happily, our plow and snow blower are ready to roll.

Many thanks to my sister-in-law Joyce who sent us the book below as a Christmas gift.

Since they weren't able to make it over for Christmas, my brother brought it over to me yesterday.

A lovely, lovely book.

Anyone who has had canine best friends will identify with the short and simple but poignant and powerful selections.

Truly a wonderful gift for your dog loving friends.

Thank you again, Joyce.

Conversations

Said Bear, "I know I'm supposed to keep my eye on you, but it's difficult the way you lag behind and keep talking to people.

Well, how can you keep your eye on me when you're half a mile ahead?

"True," said Bear, "but I'm thinking of you all the time."

I had to go away for a few days so I called the kennel and made an appointment.

I guess Bear overheard the conversation.

"Love and company," said Bear, "are the adornments that change everything. I know they'll be nice to me, but I'll be sad, sad, sad."

And, pitifully he wrung his paws.

Cancelled the trip.

The Poetry Teacher

The university gave me a new, elegant classroom to teach in. Only one thing, they said.

You can't bring your dog.

It's in my contract, I said. (I had made sure of that.)

We bargained and I moved to an old classroom in an old building. Propped the door open. Kept a bowl of water in the room.

I could hear Ben among the other voices barking, howling in the distance. Then they would all arrive---Ben, his pals, maybe an unknown dog or two, all of them thirsty and happy.

They drank, they flung themselves down among the students. The students loved it.

They all wrote thirsty, happy poems.

School

You are like a little wild thing

that was never sent to school.

Sit, I say, and you jump up.

Come, I say, and you go galloping down the sand

to the nearest dead fish

with which you perfume your sweet neck.

It is summer.

How many summers does a little dog have?

Run, run, Percy.

This is our school.

~~~~

Along with those delightful dog songs, here's a story on a topic dear to my heart: conversation.

I get paid to do what is suggested in this story, but I believe in its merits even when I'm not conversing to gain information for a story.

It truly can be life-altering and exhilarating to explore beyond the small talk in conversations with perfect strangers.

In my lifetime of happily talking to people I've never met, the first word I can think of to describe the experiences: enriching.

We can learn so much by talking to others, especially when both parties listen to each other's tales.

Obviously, this approach may not be appropriate for all situations, but generally, we come away from these conversations with our minds revitalized and inspired from what we have just experienced.

Hope you enjoy the article and then feel inspired to converse with somebody new.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/when-meeting-someone-new-try-skirting-the-small-talk-and-digging-a-little-deeper?utm_source=pocket-newtab