Vic Socotra

15 January 2008

Simple Tricks

(Ernie at rest)

It is colder here than it has been in years. Bitter, biting cold that blows right through and chills the very blood. This cold front is the great divide between the long slide into winter and the slow climb back out of it. It is a simple trick. We just have to cross it.

The divide cools the brain, and makes it hard to learn. I had to apologize to my friend, since this inter-species communication across the gulf between human and canine takes some calibrating.

I walked the visiting Border Collie this morning after the alarm went off, startling us both. His name in Ernie, incidentally, though I will not use his last name in the interest of privacy.

I think he does not rise this early, and takes his New York Times later than I do. I have to work on the non-verbal language. The small assertive yips are clear enough- water and food, I presume. The cocked head and widened eyes are more subtle. When he jumps up in my lap, what is he saying? Out now, or give me a vigorous scratch?

There are consequences in the failure to recognize the signs, I know.

I found some in the back closet, atop the Afghan war rug that guards my pile of shoes. I vowed to be more attentive to his signals across the divide.

This morning he was all over the grounds of Big Pink, questing for stuff. I wore a pull over hat, parka and gloves, and was still chilled by the time we sniffed everything. The weather is going to drag us down into a trough today, high under freezing but single digits tonight and only into the mid-twenties through the weekend.

The normally big sunny window in Tunnel Eight radiate a black rectangle of chill air that hangs a foot or so into the room I use as an office, then drops and creeps across the floor. My toes are cold through my shoes.

I do not have to cross the capital today to visit the customer, as I have the last several days. With luck, I can begin my disengagement from the city altogether until the festival of the inauguration is done.

My heart goes out to those who feel the need to celebrate the event in person. Was it John Kennedy’s walk down Pennsylvania Avenue that was so bitterly cold? Everyone marveled that he did not wear a hat, and became the first modern president; cool and edgy next to Dwight Eisenhower in his staid back Homberg.

Since I have no customer meetings that I am aware of- yet- I intend dress warm and snuggly today. I think I would prefer to stay in bed, under the eiderdown and take the laptop with me.

There are several strategic walks that need to be taken in the chill, as we synchronize our inter-species communication. He will get me trained, with time, though it must be frustrating for him.

Inter-species communication is always hard. Just look at women and men. I never did get on the right wavelength for that. But I am convinced that the small black and white dog will get his message across in time.

Once we get the timing of the walks synchronized, anyway. It is a little more challenging when every instinct I have is to dive back deep under the covers. Shoot, I used to ski patrol in colder and harder weather than this, outdoors most of the day.

I have gotten soft in my dotage. But this dog is still committed to learning at least a few more simple tricks.

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