A Girl and a Dog

As Tynley and I lounged and snuggled, I looked into her deep-brown, soulful eyes and said, “I promise to keep on living and pursuing adventure like we’ve always done together, hard though it may be, no matter what.” Running my hand along her paw as we were cuddling there so as to never forget anything about it, I thought of all the places her four paws had led her as we journeyed together through her almost 16 years and the beautiful parts of my 20s, 30s, and 40s. I thought, “These four paws implemented her heart’s desires and what an authentic, flawless heart and soul she has.” Our earthly journey together, simply worded, was perfect.  As I write now, looking at my laptop’s background picture of her young puppy paws and my feet intertwined in the beach sand then reviewing the picture I took of her 15-year-old paw as we soaked in one of our last moments here on earth together, though I wrench in today’s pain, I feel deep down in my core what pure love is.  In her first class at obedience school, where she was valedictorian according to her understandably-boastful Gandpa (no r, recipient of Tynley’s adulation), beating out the one other dog taking the course, my task as the dog parent of this student was to teach her to become accepting of her paws being touched. She excelled immediately in giving me that “valedictorian” win, not because of her irrefutable intelligence, but because of her innate ability to trust and look for the good in every piece of life.  Tynley was my “soul dog,” and the two of us will forever be connected. Her soul and mine found one another. She was a gift from above, one I will cherish and later enjoy the presence of once more for all of eternity. Her tender, radiant soul was best referenced by my sincere three-year-old cousin as we pulled away from where we had just laid Tynley to rest, my heart full of sorrow. Full of unalloyed thought and with a desire for understanding, in her tiny, high-pitched voice, she asked, “Anna, how is Tynley up in heaven and down here next to us in the ground?” I explained, somehow with courage, that when we pass away, our bodies stay here on earth, but that everyone’s soul, the part of us that makes us happy and who we are, goes up to heaven. She took a brief moment to absorb my words and followed quite quickly with a desire for confirmation of her understanding: “So, Tynley’s soul was the part that made her tail wag?” From the mouths of babes and the behavior of man’s best friend, we can learn lessons about how to live.   Tynley and I realized our dreams together one day at a time. She promised me with her eyes on the day I reviewed her paw that leaves abiding emotion that she would continue to pursue adventure in heaven, taking those paws wherever they lead her until I get there.  Until we meet again, my precious angel…. Tynley 9/25/05-6/6/21 * a blog dedicated to the two devoted, caring veterinarians, Dr. Dale Brown and Dr. Nicolle Rubendall, who, with their minds, hands, and hearts, allowed Tynley to roam this beautiful earth with carefree innocence Dale and Nicolle, I thank you both for treating Tynley and me with the kind of love that I can only assume through observation led you to pursue your profession in the first place. You both excel in your field and in being the kind of “good” Tynley looked for in all that exists on this earth. For your loving care, I will forever be grateful. Love, Anna

The warm sun causes brief moments of euphoric stillness as an acoustic guitar and accompanying voice compete with the sound of the enlivened crowd on the deck at the water’s edge. Content pups playfully greet one another, lounge, scoop up water from lovingly-placed cups and bowls, and seek snacks dropped by human hands. Just beyond the docks, skiffs, yachts, and fishing boats below, the wide-open waterscape is breathtaking as the bouncing rays from above create a moving shimmer. Traveling vessels wander through, some choosing to cruise as their entertainment with music at top volume, some having a pointed salty destination but sharing a quick honk of a horn, some making a quick turn toward the picturesque setting where Tynley and I sit to tie up and join the pleasant experience, and some gliding through from afar to see our glorious slice of the world. 

Laughter fills the air as smells from the latest fried catch and a fruity cocktail waft across the scene above long panels of wood perched on pilings amongst the oyster beds and stirred water that occasionally splashes against the land. A sense of belonging surrounds Tynley and me as a friend waves from across the deck and intimate conversation takes place on the level above. Humans and dogs alike scuttle about the lower deck as all seek to enjoy the perfect combination of fun between the flowing and still earth. Refreshment and happy chatter drift through the main deck space continuously as I kick back in a chair taking it all in and Tynley sits beneath me chomping on ice and shrimp with vigor.  

They know Tynley here. Walking up to my hard-working friends who make this place special, all I have to say is, I’d like a “Tynley Shrimp,” please, and her cup of ice; this request is later followed by the perfect dish and hydration arriving exactly to her liking from a polite, friendly hand with care. As the daylight fades into a stunning sunset placed just beside the waterway, her wagging tongue and tail coax shrimp “seconds” from behind the counter as if she’d walked up and placed an order herself as a paying patron. In this location, Tynley is relaxed and therefore, I am. We feel surrounded by caring hearts. During each visit, we’re greeted by many familiar faces asking, “How’s Tynley today? She been swimming?” Next, they beam, “Looks like she’s been out having some fun. Her salty, wet state means she’s a happy girl.” My reply is almost always, yup! Today, we…and the story about that day’s combo of biking, paddle boarding, walking, playing ball, sniffing shells, dining al fresco, meeting up with other dogs on the nearby islands, and swimming begins. We find our community here and sit back with gratitude. 

As Tyn gets pets and awwwwws from the two-legged friends and visits from other sweet tail-waggers, I’m often asked how old she is. When I mention she is approaching 16, the response quite frequently is, “Wow! She looks great! What’s your secret?” 

My reply? We live every day. We find an outing every day. We seek our version of adventure every day, whether ambitious or simple. We create cherished stories as we embrace our understood love for one another. We don’t let the moments slip by. We appreciate our blessings and choose to never take them for granted. Our thankfulness and desire to create our happiness daily as she skips along with a bounce in her senior steps and I breathe in the fresh air contribute to our vitality. Knowing life is this glorious, we always “go back for seconds.”

The fusion of red, pink, orange, and blue sat as a canvas in the sky directly above sailboats that glided quietly on the softly-flowing water. A boat with lively music playing at top volume passed by in the channel and skaters swiveled their boards on the nearby road. Bikers conversed and laughed loudly as they breezed through the summer air and the last few travelers who’d arrived for the weekend straggled playfully by their cars. The road-faring adventurists sat atop their woody-inspired, surf-themed conversion bus to soak every component of the surrounding environment into their souls just as I was doing while Tynley strolled along with pep in her step beside me. 

The entire world had recently stopped in a somewhat united fashion and Tyn and I had gotten back out there in the many beautiful days before this one. This idea that we should stop in our tracks, while necessary, had also become a thought my mind needed to sit with and then adjust a bit using all of the right rules of being a proper citizen and at the same time not stopping the goal Tynley and I have of seizing every moment in the life we’ve been given. 

I had realized I needed to create change for us:

I had begun grabbing a water bottle for her long tongue to slurp from and a dry bag full of outdoor accessories for my shoulder again. 

We had begun intentionally deciding to save that amazing snuggling we’d been doing daily for our quiet moments of rest instead. 

We had begun walking out the door toward life again.

As we were adjusting to life anew, I quickly realized Tynley isn’t a fan of social distancing. Her definitive thoughts were, “Yeeeah, I’m not doing that. We must get back out there.” I liked her view on experiencing life to the max and we learned to work with it, mixing in the human rules of living respectfully in society. 

We began to remember that conversations with others in nearby range from a board on the water can be very engaging as the cooling water trickles around us, the pleasant sun reviving both our bodies and spirit and the laughter, accord, and interactions rejuvenating our being. 

We began to remember that a walk blanketed with smiles from others, humans and canines alike, allows us to connect with those we’re placed on the earth with to support one another, strong as we may be on our own. 

We began to remember that cuisine and hydration from the heat are best enjoyed in fellowship, and this can still happen while practicing spatial awareness. 

We began to remember that the world we were given should be collectively explored by four paws and two feet regularly. 

This glorious sunset sitting that evening in the same location it does roughly every 24 hours, each time as an awe-inspiring and brand-new canopy, was our reminder that we were doing it right once more. As Tynley contentedly cut her eyes up at me with a smile on her face as she does during every walk we take together, she seemed to be sharing my thought that there is only one way to live and that is fully. 

A dog teaches us so much about what we should be like. On a daily basis, Tynley awakens with a smile and positivity; she communicates to me that she’s eager, joyful, and ready for the day. The tip tap of her nails hitting the ground running each day makes me aware that she knows what she wants to do and she can’t wait to get started. She wants to make sure of two things: that I know she loves me and that she is ready to get moving together. So, her actions share her sentiments: “Thank you for the pats and pets and rubs and scratches and kisses! Let’s get coffee and breakfast going! The leash is over there for our walk! So much wonder awaits us!” Her bright disposition and radiant assertiveness are absolutely refreshing. Beaming resoluteness intact, you can also be sure that submissive behavior will show up after any dog has found mischief she just couldn’t stop herself from getting into because it seemed like so much fun at the time. Maybe you’re familiar with “the look” our canine friends have mastered. They’re reeeallly sorry they licked every corner of that aluminum foil and then tore it into the tiniest pieces you’ve ever seen that are now spread across the floor, forming a reflective trail you get to follow as you pick up the minuscule remnants. They can’t help that it seemed like the ball would taste so good since it was so much fun to play with and that now its shredded rubber interior and outer covering have a slobbery, slippery coating that adds a bit of sheen to the neon green. They’re certainly regretful about that prickly pine cone that made its way indoors and that after being formed into bite-sized ovals and dropped from the mouth onto the now-clean floor leaves that one pin-like, blood-inducing spike as a surprise for later. Tyn has an affinity for playing it cool with a plan in her mind as I blow a kiss when I leave the house for brief human errands. She waits to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything that could cause my prompt return and then eventually pops up to explore. “What’s on the counter? Anything delicious? How about on these side tables? Oooh, that smells interesting. Hmmm. Why did she put that way up high on the shelf? I’ll never be able to reach it there. What was she thinking? Surely she left something out after she scanned the entire house to do that thing she calls ‘dog-proofing’ before leaving!” Tyn has welcomed me home to everything from scented soap to Thanksgiving turkey bones having been relished as tasty snacks. She’s skillful at her craft. You’d better believe that when I walk back through the door to find the vestiges of such prizes, she works her magic on me. She rolls onto her back to lie completely upside down and sticks her legs up into the air just so, slightly bending them at the wrist so that the paws dangle a bit. She becomes purely submissive while her deep-brown puppy dog eyes blink heavily as a result of her own disbelief in the idea that she could get so carried away with herself. The sad blinks become more and more distinguishable until you relieve her guilt by saying the freeing words, “It’s okay!” and showing her with your body language that you forgive her. She’s then ready to get back to that day and the things she knows she wants to do. When dogs are not feeling sooo, sooo sorry about doing that thing they didn’t mean to do, they may still be meekly obedient, which we love about them, but all other signs of submissive behavior are absent. They know exactly who they are, allowing their innate knowledge to guide them, learning more along the way, being compassionate in the process, and sniffing out the path they want to take. We should model our behavior after theirs: be mild in manner while also seeking out our own path using our gut as backing, not letting anything stand in our way. After the squirrel that scurries into our sight line totally distracts us, we should get back to the goal. We need to yell, “Squirrel!” and move forward. Each of us is unique, our genetics, experiences, and knowledge forming a specific skill set as we walk through the miles of life. We have so much to give once we understand what that skill set is. A dog has an unadulterated and loving heart to give, whether licking a lingering workout sock or allowing her nose to lead the way to her goal. Seek what you have to give. Find it, know it, and be it.

As I snuggle up with Tyn on the couch in this very moment, her head rests on the petite peppermint Christmas “pillow” that for almost fourteen years, she’s never known is actually a squeaky dog toy I purchased as a Christmas bargain, one which she would thoroughly enjoy pulling the stuffing from to find the squeaky prize in the middle. How I’ve gotten away with this for over a decade while having a canine companion who has aspects of intelligence that surpass my own I can’t tell you. The candy-striped bin that she knows is her stocking sits beneath two other bins by the tree with care, sniffed almost daily in hopes that St. Nick will soon be here. The white tree lights shimmer and bounce off our red-and-white-themed seasonal decor and her very audible grizzly bear snores that have been a part of our lives since she was no longer than my forearm create my smiles. The top of her head gets pets, kisses, and rubs as she digs into my side to get as close as she possibly can to me and I think, wow, this is the perfect moment. 

Just a few hours earlier today, as I was heading out for some brief solo errands after placing all stocking bins high on the dresser out of paws’ reach (refer to previous post: age 14 doesn’t stop her zest for everything wonderful), Tyn just knew in her mind that we were getting ready for a fun outing. She bounced, paced, panted, and peeked around every corner I turned as key indicators of her excitement. The to-do list in my mind became irrelevant; I stopped for a moment and realized the value in changing my course. Into the car she went with me. Grocery staples were purchased in minutes and then we went to her favorite dog shop where she chose three treats: two selected by brown, speckled and ant-bitten curious dog nose that went into my hand and one pulled from the alluring basket by the combination of incisors and a very long tongue; this third prize was eaten immediately as I assured the shop manager we’d be purchasing “Tripe Twist.” Next, we headed for an unplanned December swim at the Intracoastal Waterway. Smiles abounded, sniffs of random “washed up stuff” were super important, and springing helicopter twirls ruled the moment. Don’t forget the always-needed venture into the tall beach grass to roll around and act silly while picking up every single sandspur present on the eastern US coast in the process. 

My point is we chose to stop to share sweet moments and appreciate the life right there in front of us to be had. We put the everyday rote on pause to relish in shared joy. I had 578 things to do, but I didn’t care. I think it was 579 now that I think of it. As I enjoy the perfection I’m so lucky to have happening in my life right now that is defined by one content baby by my side in this cozy setting, I remember that happiness in life comes from stopping to smell the roses and that sayings such as this come to be for a reason. This is a concept we’ve all heard of before, yet we forget to make it happen. Being that Tyn and I are beach gals, I’m going to call this happening a sunglasses moment, as in, stop and grab your sunglasses: get stoked because this is gonna be awesome. 

A beautiful moment can be right in front of our faces and we can easily disregard it because we think our tasks take precedence. The question to ask , though, is when we are in a retired state kicking back in a rocking chair on the front porch one day looking back, sunglasses on, will we remember that we bought the milk and bread or that we laughed uncontrollably by the sea on a random Friday? Being a productive member of society is important. Appreciating life in all of its tiny moments is the goal.

So, put your shades on, watch your fur baby start to bound across the living room like a tiny reindeer preparing to dash away after he just got a graham cracker cookie at the last beach house with Santa, and reach your epiphany. Happy December 19!

I’ve been known to unintentionally wear my clothes inside out…more times than I’d like to admit. A good friend of mine has come to expect this occurrence as the norm actually. It’s as if this friend would ask me if all is well if I made it more than a few months at the time with clothes appropriately worn. Just this morning, when Tyn and I took a gorgeous stroll in the cool fall breeze along a tree line with captivating, magnificent colors of yellow, orange, and red, palm trees in the distance as a reminder of our true love, I looked down to find that I’d put her collar on inside out. True story. I feel like if I asked ten people if they’d ever done that, zero would say yes. 

As Tyn looked up at me in confusion with an understanding face as always, I’m sure thinking, “She’ll work it out. She always does. I’ll be patient,” I thought, what do we do when life turns us inside out? How do we react? Are we patient and understanding? Do we push forward anyway, knowing we’ll eventually get it right? Some days are happy and some are more challenging. That’s what makes the big picture of life grand. We enjoy all the beauty of it and when times are harder, we grow. How would we grow otherwise? 

When was the last time you were elated, on cloud nine, and having the time of your life and thought, I really need to go home and fix my life? We don’t do that. It’s when we see aspects of our lives that aren’t as we’d hoped that we stand up and do something about them. We push through, physically and mentally. 

Tyn pushes through arthritic pain, pulled muscles, torn ACLs, and a dog mom who can’t put her collar on the right way to enjoy every moment. She learns how to shift her weight and run with reckless abandon on the beach. Last month, she hiked stunning, steep, leaf-covered mountains and walked through boulder-laden, brisk, flowing streams with me after just getting over a muscle strain. Birds and squirrels watch out! Puppies have nothing on her determination! Even the plastic coyote she encountered on a recent day of swimming and walking on acres of quiet land in the countryside didn’t see it coming. She approached him full-on and wasn’t having his presence! The prideful walk she had after she’d told him who was in charge was well-earned. 

If you ever realize you’ve put your clothes on inside out…again, instead of rolling your eyes at your current life situation and giving up on it, laugh and say, “I’ve got this!” Push through the inside out to see how you grow. Maybe turn your clothes and dog’s collar back around first, though, because that’s a fad no one wants to see take place. 

Tynley is the picture of happiness. I often think, if only I had her beautifully-innocent, constantly-content heart.

A day done right with Tynley by my side can often mean finding that perfect serene, breathtaking spot and taking a moment to absorb thoughts and the stillness. We enjoy finding ourselves sitting together with a gorgeous view spread across the land, water, and sky before us as if created only for our special outing. We all seek out the content feeling existing in this type of moment and wish for its presence in daily life. We want to realize happiness in newfound ways, happiness from familiar experiences, and happiness from pleasant truths, memories, and feelings we hold deeply in our hearts, but how can we without first stopping to understand ourselves personally and know for a fact what makes us tick?

Strength in numbers is a phrase many of us know, but you’ll find my version of this saying a bit altered today as I mention strength in one (which, in my life, comes with a plus one in canine form). Though this phrase typically is used to discuss ability to complete a task through shared effort, my reference is about having personal insight and being secure with oneself before all else. One self-knowing, capable-by-choice individual happy with who she is can be a powerhouse. She who is self-aware and confident in her own pursuits (and who has the admiration and approval of an intuitive canine) has the world at her fingertips.

Taking time to stop, think, and become aware through alone time with the soul can lead to a first-rate life experience. Alone is a state of being we most often fear, though. Not counting the much-desired time shared with sweet fur babies by our sides, how good are most of us at being without the presence of others to fill up our time and minds? Why can’t we be comfortable with just ourselves? Why must there be some mindless activity in front of us to pass the time or another person to fill us up? Why is it so hard to spend time only thinking and becoming more aware? We were placed on this planet together to be there for one another, which is without doubt a very good thing, but at what point are we relying too heavily on the actions of others to survive and form our “own” happiness? Perhaps we could all use a lesson in taking time for ourselves to stop and realize who we are, what we need, how we give to others, and what we want to do.

After becoming more aware, we can more fully understand how we connect to others positively and are fulfilled in life. We can then choose our actions in a manner that prepares us to take the right personal path. In getting to know ourselves, we can mold our present and future into what is right. This is not to say we should all lead lives of solitude and stop engaging with those around us, but if we know that our happiness starts on the inside and works its way outward, we can lead the lives we create in our dreams and wake up to that ecstatic furry friend each day with returned enthusiasm.

Finding contentment from within oneself before reaching out to others to complete the equation is an important part of well-being. Feeling happy without looking for that “fix” somewhere else is a challenging yet rewarding task. Why do we naturally have a tendency to hinge our happiness on interactions with others? When we look for someone else to create our happiness, we may find ourselves failing. The people we love will at some point become human and let us down (see: why dogs are awesome). Guess what? We all do this to others, not necessarily knowing so, at different points in time. This type of behavior is normal; we wouldn’t be human if this didn’t happen, but if all of our “happiness eggs” are placed in other baskets, then what? While human nature will kick in and our reactions and feelings will always be somewhat based on how we are co-existing with others around us, we should place an intentional focus on a core understanding of the self being the first part of our personal awareness. We then are strong and accepting individuals when interacting with others and can forge healthy bonds. Make no mistake: live full lives with those you care about and let them in fully. In addition, however, ensure that you are strong personally first and that you know what you want in life no matter the actions of others, for you cannot control what they will do, only what you will do. Create your own positivity before looking outward.

This discussion is obviously about interactions with humans. Tynley is always by my side. That’s just a given. If only we could take a page from the canine book and have an enduring smile and completely selfless heart and attitude without initial work. I absolutely want to surround myself with the love and friendship of others, but first, I have to put in the work to understand yours truly. How can we love others with all the respect deserved without a strong understanding of ourselves first? How can we love another in a romantic relationship without knowing what we need from the partnership and what we have to offer? How can we be good friends to others without knowing the ways we’re most capable of being supportive in good and bad times? How can we be family members to rely on without a true understanding of our best abilities and limitations? Once we learn and accept the basics of who we are, we can give to others and strive to attain what we need and want out of life. Once a person has spent some time “alone” with an end-goal of self-cognizance, she can begin the process of being all she was meant to be. I am more of an asset to others and myself when I’ve learned what allows me to be at my best first.

Knowing who we are before all else creates more productivity, happiness, and wellness as a whole. Once this awareness exists, we can enjoy enriched feelings like those of a smiling, bright-eyed, tail-wagging canine companion.

511 days. That’s how many it had been since I last had all of my “stuff” in my possession. Yes, I’m talking about that dark blue shade of nail polish I never would have remembered I had in the box of nail polish from every hue of the rainbow. Yes, I did smile in admiration of the long-forgotten square white candle with harsh, funky edges that I lean the distressed, white anchor on. And yes, I dramatically fell to the floor and hugged my beloved, life-giving Keurig when my eyes met its vibrant yellow finishings. Relevant coffee maker aside, these items that once each had a perfect place provide warm memories of the past, but what place do they hold now?

After recently beginning to unload boxes of all the things I’ve acquired in life and kept since I’ve been an adult, I was talking to my cousin when he asked what I thought was a profound question. I didn’t have much of an answer at the time, but I couldn’t stop thinking about his query after our video call. He had asked, “So now that you’re looking through your belongings and are aware that you got by just fine without them for a year and a half, how do you feel about them? Do you feel like you could chunk a large portion of what you own or do you feel relieved to have it all back?” This is a question I too had pondered in so many words over those last many months, but I couldn’t put my finger on an answer until the contents were back in my grasp and being beheld by my eyes once more.

Apart from these enthusiastic descriptions of my personal effects, I’m not much on materialism. Anyone who has seen the amount of doodads, widgets, and whatchamacallits I have would laugh until tears fell down his cheek after hearing this statement, though. Despite the misconceptions, I’m just not into consumerism and “having.” When I need to shop for something, I know my goal and am in and out of the door quickly, or better yet, thank you Amazon for letting me stay in these clothes and sit with my coffee. I’d much rather find myself hanging with Tynley on a gorgeous day outside. A large portion of the items I’ve procured over the years are a result of being sentimental, and that’s okay, right? The bow that was on the lovingly-crafted construction paper card scribbled by Niece #1 at the tender age of 2, later re-purposed as a laughter-inducing headpiece for Niece #2? Yes, I need that! The too-long shoelaces I tripped over when obtaining my all-important group fitness teaching certification? Of course they’re needed because that last-minute stop to hurriedly buy them and lace my shoes while running through the store after realizing there were in fact none in my shoes on an important day was a relevant moment in life. How else would I laugh and remember these stories?

I’d be lying to you if I said yup, it’s super easy to just toss that stuff. Don’t need it. I haven’t been excited at all about every tiny thing I pull from a box, from the fountain I proudly picked for my very first home that my brother-in-law loves to move around for me to the tiny wooden key holder I made at my church as a child that reminds me Christ is the key. In reality, this was like a shopping spree you win as a result of some sort of competition. You spend no money and the goods keep on coming. Tynley’s eyes were even shining brightly as I pulled old frisbees, balls, and things that squeak from the piles. I laughed as I noticed her beginning to grin and pant with interest. I cackled as I watched her eyes and head begin to move with my moving hand.

So yes, I’d be fibbing if I said this wasn’t as fun as the day after the jolly guy shimmies down the chimney. Nonetheless, this question my cousin had set me down a path of thinking. What would it be like if we could let go of material things? After all, I had somehow managed to make it well past the year mark without my cracker-sleeve-holding Tupperware container. Yes, there were times made more difficult as a result of not having the medium-sized overnight bag and only having the large one within reach, but lo and behold I came out alive after all of this “without.”

This thought about removing my “things” from boxes became a metaphor. How could I unpack what had been mentally boxed up in my life? What kind of freeing relief could be provided by removing unnecessary contents and throwing away the surrounding cardboard forever? All of the compartmentalized items: how could I address each one by evaluating what was really needed and disposing of the rest? What would this make room for in my life?

This awakening had been continually forming; it did not come overnight, but instead began to take shape when I unknowingly set out on a lengthy journey in which I was the main character in my own allegory. I learned a valuable lesson: life is what you make it. Life is what you choose.

You need water to survive, but you can chase that dream you have without the water pack that goes on your back and can instead use the one that goes on your hip if you need to. With basic needs met, you can be anywhere choosing the right kind of vitality. You simply have to keep the boxed up items that matter.

The haves and the have-nots have no real ranking. If only Gatsby had discovered this valuable piece of information. If only the American Dream were simplified …. Yes, having the half teaspoon and whole teaspoon on the ring sure does make life easier, and I’ll be the first to tell you I’m going to keep them both for now, but it’s refreshing to know that they won’t ever hold me back again. They don’t have to be in the drawer nearby for me to survive. I’m unpacking my physical and mental boxes one at a time, choosing what is indispensable and right to have in my life and evaluating what Tynley and I will do next. Stay tuned because it will be good.

Keep what makes you smile in life and throw out the rest. You don’t need it to create a beautiful, fulfilling story.

Tynley and I have embraced the very forward and changing movement of our life together often. Every time we face new, she’s by my side with a smile looking up at me speaking the words, “I approve if you do!” with her eyes. In favor of our quest for fresh experiences my father recently shared, “There can be so much ‘same’ in your life that it’s like you’re stuck in the mud and can’t get out when there is so much to enjoy in the world.” I couldn’t agree more.

With this in mind, today I write, not from a scene where the water meets the land or from a place where I’m checking off a bucket list item, but from a rural locale complete with guinea fowl, front porches, a gazebo, floral delectations around each corner, a sprouting fountain, freshly-grown vegetables and fruits, a swing intended for long, relaxed conversation, lattice, and bugs. Oh, and lots of bug spray. Hey, every creature has its place. There’s even a hen house! We’re not far from the sea and sand, so please don’t fret. The audacity of such a thought….

This sounds like a strange departure from Anna’s norm, you’re thinking, but Tynley and I have actually experienced this lifestyle before. We’re country girls at heart. While I feel pretty certain dogs are born with this inclination, rediscovering this joy myself brings remembered moments to smile about in a serene setting.

As Tynley splashes through the nearest puddle, proudly disperses guinea fowl repeatedly, gives a thorough sniffing to the perimeter of the woods wondering which feral kitty will delight in teasing her on this day, and switches up a back roll in the sand for a back roll in the grass, all with a giant smile, I remember that simplicity is just wonderful.

As day fades to evening, the chirps of male crickets and low moans of bullfrogs enjoying the warmth contribute to relaxedness at its finest. To complete the list, add a rocking chair, cold glass of lemonade, and fresh water bowl underfoot.

Today my message is short and sweet. Don’t sit for too long, but sometimes simplicity, whether in a new or old form, is the adventure.