I intended to make it quick and to keep my face down. The wind was cutting today, and the windchills close to 0. My four-month-old Puppy Willa loves a good walk, and so I told her it would be short and quick. I took these pictures throughout today (but not on the walk) since I didn’t walk with my phone/camera, not intending to enjoy the walk but just “get it done.”
We started, and within moments Willa has a burst of energy and a strong pull on the leash. Of course, I am looking down, so as I quickly lift my gaze to see what is enticing her, It was as if Willa’s movement towards the group of runners communicated, “here I come, let me finish your run with you” There was a sudden stop to her graceful movement as the leash came up much shorter than Willa would have liked. I smiled as I said to Willa, “ someday, Willa, you can run off-leash.” and I put my cold face downward.
I kept walking, but Willa had stopped. She quickly moved on from her dream of running with the runners. Now Willa was trying to get to know the many dogs in the neighborhood through their snow markings. I couldln’t help but wonder if she could smell out her “cousin dog” Bella who also walks along this park? As we would walk a few steps and she would find another spot of yellow snow and I realized this walk might take me much longer than I expected if I could not distract her from the many other dogs who walk this path and leave their mark.
And just like that, she was barking in a way I had not yet heard from my small but growing puppy. It was as if she felt she needed to protect me. The bark was deep, and she was up on her hind legs lunging towards something on the other side of the tree.
I quickly raised my glance as the wind caused my eyes to water and i began to laugh out loud. My couragous and bold black lab was protecting me from a sled that was propped in the snow. I wish I had some treats with me to settle down her protective side, as that very scary sled did not move from her sight.
I positioned myself between her and the sled, wrapped my scraf to cover my face and began to run through the snow with her. The protective pup became a kangaroo as she bounded through snow that could have been piled deeper than her if she had let her self actually land. But with each jump into the snow she bounded out and had snow covering her face and eyes in a way that made it look like the best day ever.
And so I set out on a walk today with my puppy Wilhelmina Hope. She reminded me to anticipate joy, live with curiosity, and enjoy the journey, even on a cold day!
And then, just like that, we were back in the car, and she was snoring. That walk, which was so full of adventure, caused her to fall asleep right in my nieces hand.
