Morning coffee is the most sacred time of the day for me. This morning the weather was warm enough for me to sip and gaze while sitting out on the patio. At 5:30 the birds didn’t interrupt the quiet rustle of the trees, nor did the headless moles (they have no eyes) startle me as they skittered silently by my feet.
I don’t expect the same quiet sacredness when later in the day I take my walk. Of course I will hear cars passing by. Although I won’t like it, at least I’ll anticipate the presences of leaf blowers as fall comes to New England.
What I will never anticipate is what happened this morning--a dog snapping at me from a passing red SUV as I walked along one of my favorite country roads. This little dog was watching and waiting, head sticking out the back window. I am still upset about it; my reptilian brain is still responding. Oh, I know it wasn’t personal, I know I’m not the only walker he/she snapped at, I know it is easier to control one’s children than one’s dog. I know all this because I have owned several little yipping dogs.
Although I also know I have to let go of this feeling of being attacked, I sure don’t have to like it. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being most offensive, there are many louder and more grating sounds than a yipping dog. So why is this one right up there as a ten? Because I was surprised and startled, and felt personally attacked. It has to do with context.
I don’t expect the same quiet sacredness when later in the day I take my walk. Of course I will hear cars passing by. Although I won’t like it, at least I’ll anticipate the presences of leaf blowers as fall comes to New England.
What I will never anticipate is what happened this morning--a dog snapping at me from a passing red SUV as I walked along one of my favorite country roads. This little dog was watching and waiting, head sticking out the back window. I am still upset about it; my reptilian brain is still responding. Oh, I know it wasn’t personal, I know I’m not the only walker he/she snapped at, I know it is easier to control one’s children than one’s dog. I know all this because I have owned several little yipping dogs.
Although I also know I have to let go of this feeling of being attacked, I sure don’t have to like it. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being most offensive, there are many louder and more grating sounds than a yipping dog. So why is this one right up there as a ten? Because I was surprised and startled, and felt personally attacked. It has to do with context.