A Boy and his Dog

Couple weeks ago, about mid-week, my semi-retired Dad called me and said, "I'm going down to the shore today, this is the last week dogs are permitted on the beach until the end of the summer season. Want to come?" I think he forgets I have to go to work during the week sometimes.

Anyway, he drove two hours each way, to spend thirty minutes on the beach with Zoey. I have think he is insane sometimes... but then I got to thinking about the weekend day we went down there around March 20th. The sun was glorious and the sky, a brilliant blue. The ocean water was a cold, clear green and the white sandy beach was mostly deserted (I hate to sound like a hermit, but I prefer it this way).

While I stood in the dunes and watched the waves roll in and out - I spotted a man walking his dog a ways down the beach.


I shouted, "Hey Zoey! Here comes a dog!"

She turned to me and her expression was one of "you talking to me?"


I simply laughed at her, and she stopped and turned to see what I was pointing at.


Her ears perked up when she saw the black lab I was watching... You could almost hear her think, "Oh boy! Here comes some fun!"


"Come on! Come on already!!"


"Woof woof!! ArrRack! Arrf!"*

*I think this means, "Hi! my name is Zoey, what's yours?"

"Whoooooof! bark bark bark yip!"

*I think this means, "My human is a great guy! You like yours?!"


"Wooof! Pant pant pant auuurrrgghh!"*

*Loosely dog-whispered, this means, "(expleted deleted) [trans: gosh darn] leash! Let me go human!"


"Arrrrrwwwwwwwooooo wuf!"*

*"Well, nice to meet you, sort of... sigh."


"Bark! Bark barkety bark arf!"*

*"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow!"

Hmmm... Zoey must be reading William Shakespeare these days...