A year ago today I adopted Elmer the maniacal husky from the county animal shelter. It was a cold and windy and rainy morning and it took three of us to get him the back seat of my rig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was so ready for a dog. I was feeling stuck and knew I had to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That drive home through east Portland and its squalid and depressing scenes of homelessness began our life together. We listened to jazz on the socialist jazz station that morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Except for one morning when I rushed to an emergency room after my father had taken a fall at his assisted living facility, we have yet to miss an early morning walk. What a world we’ve discovered out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our year together, I have lost almost 15 pounds, sharpened my creative mind, rediscovered the joy of running an Oregon beach with a dog, and met some fantastic new friends at the dog park. Elmer got me to finish the Prefontaine book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without Elmer, life in the big city would have been almost unbearable. One day, we’ll relocate to a different place, near the ocean, and start all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ve got an excellent groove going. Early to bed and very early to rise. Three or four or five walks a day. Encounters with wildlife (a skunking!) and homeless people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lots of laughing and wrestling and dancing in the living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tonight we will celebrate our one-year anniversary with a special dinner. Pizza for me and a steak for Elmer. He’ll stand near me as I fry it up. We’ll have the socialist jazz station playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Jim Harrison once wrote, \u201cThere is something about doing a favor for a dog that calms you down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onward to year two Elmer! Who knows what stories we’ll be walking or running into. It will also be comforting to have you along when the Republic collapses. Dogs are good for that sort of thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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