"God, help me be the person my dog thinks I am"

by Lisa Andersen

I walk in.  She sits and stares. I am busy so I don't notice.  She follows. me.  I get my cup of coffee and find my place on the couch.  she persistently stays with me and sits at my feet.  Then I notice.  Her eyes are saying how enamored she is with me.  She wants to just be with me.  She doesn't want much more than that. Oh yes to be fed and let out when needed. But, mostly she just wants to be with me.  She thinks I'm the bomb.  She doesn't know the truth.  I mess up.  I forget birthdays.  Sometimes I oversleep.  I wish I were a better everything.  She's my dog and I AM HER PERSON.  So she doesn't know.... 

So, in my hurry I resist letting her sit on the couch with me. And she waits just for one little word.  She knows the tone.  She is ready to jump up and be with me when I just start the phrase.."you wanna..." that's all. And she's up with me.  Nestling in. Groaning with delight. 

And there we sit. Dog and Person. I wish I were all that she thinks I am.  Oh GOD help me be the person she thinks I am. 

And then she does it.  The thing that ejects her from my lap.  She lets one go...and she's in her bed again....for a while.

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