JUST A DOG ?
From time to time, people have said to me,
"lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog.
" They don't understand the
distance traveled, the time spent,
or the costs
involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have
come about with "just a dog."
Many hours have passed
and my only company
was "just a dog," but I did not
once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have
been brought about by "just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and reason
to overcome the day.
May God Bless my Keeshond,
Corky Sue, for delivering me from
such days after losing my
beloved of 53 years recently.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog,"
then you will probably understand
phases like "just a friend,"
"just a sunrise," or "just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my
life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the
compassion and patience
that makes me a better person.
Because of "just a dog"
I will rise early.
We will do our chores
and take walks and look
longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me,
it's not "just a dog" but an
embodiment of all the hopes
and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's
good in me and diverts my thoughts
away from myself,
my longings and my worries.
I hope that someday they can
understand that it's not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me
humanity and keeps me
from being "just a Woman."
So the next time you hear the phrase
"just a dog," just smile,
because they "just don't understand."
Granny Hook
