Our sweet Jenny is our first greyhound ever! She is 3 ½ years old, smaller and red-brindled tiger-striped, beautiful white chest patch and a face that gazes at you with tranquil love. She has a dark tail that ends like a 2 ½ inch dipped in white paint artist’s paintbrush. And, oh, that tail seems to express her uniqueness!
Every morning, Jenny wakes with Carl around 5 a.m. As the coffee brews, Jenny begins her ritual. She takes her five or six special toys, and, one by one, prances them into the living room. Carefully, almost thoughtfully, she positions each slowly, sometimes making a small adjustment. The result is a spacious arrangement, not too much unlike the Big Dipper pattern. But, as the days pass and the Earth moves, so does Jenny’s constellation. I recognize this because I taught the unit on “Our Planet and the Constellations” for many years. Next, I hear her prancing on the hardwood floors into the bedroom where I am awake but trying to catch a bit more sleep. Jenny walks to my side and bids me good morning with four moist ‘nose kisses’, beginning nose-to-nose and touching three other places on my face. I respond always with a kiss and a “Good morning, Jenny”. (I don’t get up, and that is okay with her!)
She continues her patterns when going out on a leash. She walks twice, “ring-around-the-rosy” at our so-called kitchen-dining room divider post, and then she is ready. Carl calls it “the game she plays with me.”
We still are amazed and trying to understand her intelligence. After her first few days at our home I heard a very loud rattling of our kitchen doorknob. My mind went to: ‘danger, intruder-mode!’ It was Jenny, boldly rattling the doorknob with her needle nose. This is her exit door to potty! My Lord! A dog who trains us! Beyond this, Jenny seems to understand our “human to dog talk”, and she has the ability to calm small, yipping animals. She stands, tilts her head and gives a soft, lingering gaze. ---She listens to little children the same way.
And, oh, those few, special walks we take together in the early morning along our favorite park trails make everything all right with the world for that special piece of time. Jenny is “close”and worldly clutter that can block my view seems to disappear. I think we both free ourselves from all those plans and aims life is filled with.
Most importantly, it all simplifies to this: the paintbrush tail! Jenny is saying, tailwise, ---“let’s start our day like a “new painting.” We can draw a line with positivity and erase any errors with forgiveness. I will dip my tail brush in a color with lots of patience and color your world with love.
I think for Carl and I, our goal is to give this greyhound’s love back times four, to show her a new life, away from her former empty existence. But, I do need to say, if it were not for our former GAGR president, Brenda Grammatico who gave me open arms and constant support, Jenny would not be with us today. Brenda, you are a blessing.
p.s. Jenny has begun her first “Meet and Greets” at Petco, Monroe Avenue. She loves it. I hope many stop by, learn about greyhounds at the rescue organization GAGR. You will discover: if you want to experience true love, get a greyhound! |
