Last day of September, Olympia, a day begging for a walk with my best four-legged friend, damned near best friend period no matter the number of legs. High-sixties, slight breeze, long shadows, changing colors, all greet Maggie and me on our walk. If you’ve never joined us before, what I can tell you is this: once we leave the concrete behind and step lively into the countryside, the wonders arrive non-stop. All you need, if you plan on joining us, is a willingness to be amazed by the life which surrounds us.
A little concerned about my Maggie
Every dog owner will understand this, dare I say any cat owner as well. Any change in their behavior, anything out of the norm, a norm I have known daily for seven years, becomes a nagging sliver of concern. It is illogical, quite possible irrational, but it is there nonetheless because, well, we love them.
The last two nights, Maggie has awakened me, middle of both nights, dead asleep, because she needed to go outside to pee.
Trust me when I tell you that has never happened before, never as in not during her lifetime with me, 365 days, seven years, add them up, 2,555+ and counting, and not once has she needed to relieve herself out of a dead sleep. Which of course had me Googling like crazy today, looking for possible illnesses associated with her symptoms, which of course is a guaranteed trip to the looney bin for yours truly.
Chances are there is absolutely nothing wrong with her (although she now has diarrhea too), but that brief moment of clarity has nothing to do with the tiny voice of worry bouncing around inside my head.
Again, pet owners will understand, nothing more to add, irrational but very real.
The walk continues.
Off in the distance, in the goat pasture, one bleating voice rises and drifts across the farm, the sound of a young goat, most likely a juvenile, and that sound resembled stress and/or distress.
Curious I was, kept watching the area where the sound was coming from, and within fifteen, thirty seconds, the entire herd of eighty goats congregated at the spot of the sound emission, the herd coming from all corners of the pasture, instant reaction, the sound followed immediately by compatriots responding. Which, of course, had me thinking.
Goats are herd animals. They do not do well in solitude.
Man is a herd animal. He/she does not do well in solitude.
When a goat is in distress, as was just shown on this walk, the entire goat community comes together to help their comrade.
When a human is in distress, the entire . . . oops . . . um, wait a minute, let me think about that.
When people are homeless, do we provide shelter for our companions?
When there are hungry people in our community, do we provide them food?
When there are those with mental problems, do we provide the services they need?
When there are clinically depressed, do we find them help?
When there are addicted, do we provide treatment?
Do we help the economically challenged? Do we provide excellent education for ALL children? Do we provide a living wage for those who work? Are quality opportunities available for all citizens who want them?
And, if those basic rights of a community are not available to everyone, do we, the members of that community, step up and make change happen?
Wouldn’t it be odd if a herd of goats were more human than humans? Goats don’t blame other goats. They do not demonize other herds. They simply congregate and try to help.
Maggie looks at me with understanding. She always does.
Dead raccoon by the side of the road. I have nothing reflective to say about that. It’s the cost paid for encroachment, by humans, into the wilderness habitat of other creatures. I find it sad, but I am somewhat detached from those things I cannot possibly change. It’s necessary for me to remain sane, quite frankly. If I take on the sorrows of all I will become, quickly, a babbling, non-functioning creature, and that would not bode well for Maggie’s future care.
Overhead, as we approach the new orchard, a solitary Canadian Goose flies north, the distinctive honking announcing to all below of this flyover, and I am immediately struck with the incongruous nature of that flight. It is early fall with winter rapidly approaching. Canadian Geese do not go north for the winter . . . and yet this one was. And they were doing it alone, despite all odds, geese being social creatures, always flying in the customary wing formation with others of their species.
I immediately related to that goose. It has felt, for most of my adult life, like I have headed in the wrong direction, like a salmon attempting to spawn by swimming downstream. And yet that feeling has been erroneous for I ended up, and I truly believe this, exactly where the universe planned on me being at this time. And alone? In search of others to fly with? Perfect description of me, as an adult and yet, like that goose, others were waiting for me, right around the next bend, and I was never far from companionship if I only put myself in the right position to receive it.
Maggie, she has never been alone, always had her humans with her, from three months of age to seven years and change, always with me by her side, and I wouldn’t have it any other day.
She wags her tail. She always knows.
Listen, these walks are special for me and my girl, but having you walk with us makes it extra sweet. Thank you for joining us and we will see you next time, where the sidewalk ends and the wonders begin.
Next day: Maggie is doing much better. I figured you would want to know.
Genna, you will always be welcomed on our walks. I wish it could be in person. Maggie sends her love and yes, she is back to normal.
I am so pleased that Maggie is feeling better. There is so much we can learn from animals and nature. We are part of nature but, on the whole of humanity, have disassociated ourselves from it in such disconcerting and alarming ways. You are an exception, my friend, which is why it is a pleasure to join you on your walks with Maggie, and more. Thank you! 😊
Ann, it’s always nice to hear from you, to get the pulse of the UK from a person I trust and believe. 🙂 It’s almost impossible to believe anything in the news or on social media these days, and our upcoming election has turned this country into a circus. If I were younger, knowing what I know now, I think I would move to Costa Rica and be done with this nonsense.
But nature never disappoints me, my friend, so nature it will be for this old man.
My best to you and yours
bill
Andrea, I hope Winston is doing better. Thanks for stopping by. Maggie is back to her old self, and the goose has not been seen since I wrote that blog.
I’m glad Maggie is doing better. Winston has hurt his leg in the last two weeks and though we’re hoping he just needs to take it easier for a while, we can’t help but worry. I hope that goose flying over found some companions – we could learn a lot from the goats!
So glad to hear Maggie is on the up, Bill.
Coincidence that you should mention Canadian Geese. The other mid-morning several formations came over in ‘social herd’ as it were, so about 60 Geese in all. We usually see only one or two sets at the same time. The noise was wonderful! I knew exactly where they were going – to a local park/pond where food is readily available and which is next to our smaller river. We see them on the muddy banks, near the beach and on the estuary.
I’m also in mourning for ‘our’ blackbird – identifying white feathers – who was a trusting visitor to our garden for 2 years and would sit on the fence staring at us until we brought out the raisins. So trusting he would sit on the table in front of us. We last saw him on the last day of July. I think he died of old age – I hope so.
Always great to read your musings, Bill. You bring a sense of calm and intense communion with nature.
All the best to you and yours.
Ann
Hi Sue! Thanks for the information on the dog food. I think we finally figured out what was wrong. I think Maggie found a dead rabbit and decided to nibble on it. No telling how long that rabbit had been dead, but I saw Maggie in the vicinity of it the day she became sick. Anyway, she is back to her normal self now but thank you for your concern and well-wishes.
So pleased to read that Maggie is doing much better.. and yes as a cat owner, or should I say Bill, one never owns a cat.. He or she picks you to stay with.. 🙂 And yes we notice those little differences in there routine and how they are acting.
And yes I agree with you about the sadness of roadkill’s, we have rabbits, hedgehogs and badgers and foxes and pheasants we often see at the side of the roads.. It is heart-breaking.. And it is we who have put our roads between their runs that they have used for their generations…
Thank you for taking us on the walk Bill.. I hope Maggie continues to improve… Take a look into some of the pet brands of pet food that have been recalled… Lots of bad food making pets ill especially in the USA.. Google Pet food making Dogs Sick… lots of info there Bill..
Sending love to you all.. 🙏💖
Maggie is much better today, thanks. Now I have a cold, but nothing I can’t work through quickly. In fact, I feel good enough to tackle that email I own you.
Hi Bill.
I just wanted to say I’m glad Maggie is feeling better.
How about you? You okay?