in the middle of a busy day, i drove chaco to the park. we walked down to the river in the hot sunlight, and as chaco ran and splashed, i made this tiny video.
i settled myself under a tree, and started to write an instagram post about the quietness, the peacefulness, the sound of the stream running down to join the river, chaco's joy as he leaped and bounded and splashed . . . i was going to collect my thoughts and write about some of the moments that ben and i have gotten to live together over the past five days.
i did write about the quiet, the chance to breathe, some time to think and pray.
and just then, another person with a dog appeared out of nowhere, and her dog took off after chaco, who ran straight to me - like he is supposed. as the other dog chased after chaco, her owner shouted to me, "oh! she's nice! she's only 6 months old! she loves other dogs! maybe your dog would like to play with mine!"
the soaking wet husky was right next to me at that point, causing the hair on chaco's neck and back to stand on end, drawing the quietest growl from him, and before i could jump to my feet, the husky shook. sand and water and dog-hair splattered and rained down all over me, my backpack, and chaco. i jumped to my feet, threw my phone into my bag, and while i zipped it shut, i calmly said to the other dog owner, "your dog might be nice, and mine is, too, but i never want to be the dog owner who just assumes that my dog is going to get along with every other dog or person."
"oh!" she yelled to me, "i thought the dogs could just play together!"
i threw my backpack on, and told chaco to "come" as i started to walk away. the husky follwed us. we both ignored it. it's owner shouted and shouted to it to come back. i thought about turning to tell her that if her dog won't listen to her, she should have it on a leash or on a working collar, but instead, chaco and i crossed the stream and hurried back up the trail, away from the yelling owner, the rowdy dog, and the not-so-peaceful riverside.
chaco and i will try another time. i know what the riverside can be, and i'll go claim some moments of peace there again.