Here, Shayna; come girl; Don’t leave me, Shayna
For exercise I like to walk. And so my dog doesn’t get bored I’ve taken to finding/visiting new, exciting places to exercise.
On a recent day the new ‘exciting? place was Meijer’s parking lot in Oxford. It’s a half-mile around the extreme edges of their property, by car. Just a nice walk.
I hadn’t noticed during that trip, dog Shayna had somehow slipped her collar, with leash attached, off her head. So, unknowingly, I grabbed my end of the leash, opened the door and zoom, out she went.
Sniffing as she went, and oblivious to my calls, she went into the ditches, back into the parking lot for lamppost sniffing, out across a berm and now out of sight and hearing.
I decided to go get the car, drive around, and when I saw her I’d hit the button to open the back door of our van (Shayna has yet to make a van payment yet it is ours.) She always responds to that noise, jumping in hopeful of a ride to anywhere.
I slowly circled the property twice, got out and looked over the berm, twice, drove up a bordering road and came back to Meijer.
As time passed I realized her license and name tag was in my hand and she had no identification. My mind wandered: When do I abandon this search? Do I give up on dogs all together? Is she really all that much of a companion, or more of nuisance? Maybe I’d travel more if I didn’t have a dog.
Thought after thought as an hour passed. This circle I’ll take the far outside lanes instead of close to the building.
Looking down each drive between parked cars and toward the store . . . I, what’s that brown and white thing? Make the turn and see Shayna laying on her back on the blacktop, feet extended skyward, tongue hanging out in glee while a lady scratched her belly.
She was happy as a pig in manure. As I neared I punched the door-opening button and Shayna jumped in. Turns out the lady is a dog-trainer and she was on her cell phone calling animal rescue.
While thanking the lady, her young son leaned out her car door and said, ‘Take better care of your dog, mister.?
Yeah, right! But, where’s the dog’s responsibility?
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Here’s a commercial for Bob’s Place, ‘Civilized Food & Drink,? in Alanson, MI, 7572 Burr Road. Daughter Luan and family have eaten there many times, and took me there to buy their dinners on one of their ski trips. Nice place with fine food, delightfully and quickly served by Helen Stavouy.
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I’m so proud of our grandson Dan Offer. In just three semesters at Michigan State he tells me he is a Custodial Arts Engineer.
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One more commercial. This one is for Bella-cino’s in West Branch. George Bubnes, former owner of the IGA Foodliner in Oxford, built a really fine restaurant on the west edge of town and took on the Bellacino franchise. It’s quickly served food in a very nice setting.
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If you want to lose two pounds quickly, lean back while standing on your bathroom scales.