“Henny! I think you’re going to meet Jasper today!”
When I saw his brown Subaru in the marsh parking lot, I could barely contain my excitement. Unable to recall when I’d last seen Mike and his red poodle, my mind started sending up flares.
Certainly not since Mara died…
I know we saw them once or twice after Mara tore her ACL…
A year and a half?
More?
“C’mon Hen–Let’s go!”
My leashed flight risk and I trotted along the gravel road, headed for the dike. Oh how I long for the day when Henrietta can be trusted off leash. I know it’s coming….patience, Gail, patience.
In my head, I sorted through my strong feelings of anticipation.
Several years ago, when I first saw Mike and Jasper at the marsh, I leashed Mara up and tactically avoided the pair. You might remember….Mara did not enjoy socializing with other fourlegs. She could be down right vicious when approached by another dog. My memory is shrouded in fog as to our first face to face, snout to snout connection. All I can say is…it must have been thrust upon us.
For reasons I cannot explain, Mara accepted the young male poodle without fuss. I was delighted. When we’d find our marsh paths crossing, Mike and I chatted while Mara and Jasper sniffed. Of course there was small talk about the weather or season and yet…I found this man I barely knew, could go into deep conversation, skipping all the nonsense.
For a couple of years, we experienced random encounters. Mike told me his thoughts on lots of unexpected stranger to stranger topics. He’s a smart guy who thinks deeply, is curious, and researches whatever sparks his energy. He knows about plants, making his own shoes, Jordan Peterson, and the importance of playing the system if you want to get into medical school.
He listened to my stories about whatever was capturing my interest on any given day.
In a nutshell…I believe this ability to engage on a deep level with another human…explained my eagerness to reconnect.
Since Mara died last March, I have made very few trips to the marsh. When I did venture across the train tracks—solo, or with Henrietta—I always hoped to see the Subaru. I wanted to tell Mike about losing Mara.
As wind whipped my overgrown bangs, I recognized his walk…his green jacket.
But…the poodle was the wrong color, and too short.
I walked on and watched as the man and his black, curly-haired fourleg greeted another dog and its twoleg. When they parted, I was withing yelling distance.
“Mike? Is that you?? Where is Jasper?”
Henrietta met a new friend—Cosmo. I learned that Jasper died months before Mara. The beautiful poodle, named after the color of stone, died of an intestinal torsion.
We walked a ways together.
On parting Mike said, “I read some stuff from that site you told me about…BrainPickings…the writer…she does that all herself…quite an undertaking.”
“My latest adventure is an Akimbo workshop. Have you heard of Seth Godin?”
“Sounds familiar…I’m not sure….”
I’ve no idea when I’ll see Mike again.
Maybe next time I’ll be able to let Henrietta run free with Cosmo.
Do you like to go deep in conversations?
I just learned about Tea with Strangers….what do you think about that?
We grow together?
“Tea with Strangers” sounds... what word am I looking for... “terrifying”? “panic-inducing”? “totally-utterly-freakin-scary”? [if it has dashes it’s one word] 😳
DEB: That sounds lovely. I don’t see us doing that.
Let us know how it works for you, Gail. 😁
It was nice that you reconnected with your friend again. Sorry to hear of his loss too! Nice picture.