a muffin's musings on dogs

dearest rory,

as i was sprawled across my futon a few weeks ago, groaning about the hours of laborious activity i had endured that day, complaining about my grandma's lasagna (we call it "find the noodle lasagna"), and wishing i could take a nap rather than mow the yard, i had a startling realization:

i wished i was a dog.

all eat. all sleep. all play. or so it seemed to me.

unfortunately, all they eat is a horrid, nasty substance called dog food (usually smelling something like a combination of stinky feet, toadstools, and spoiled liver) . and quite often they are forced to sleep on the cold, hard floor or in a cage. not to mention, they are given indestructible rubber balls or freakish looking stuffed rabbits with button eyes to play with. *shudders*

but that was besides the point. "they still have it pretty good," i told myself. "why? because dogs don't mind those things. you don't hear them complaining. you don't see them registering complaints on mydogfoodstinks.com or grumbling as they curl up in a ball at their master's warty feet."

but do they want to complain?

i silently asked myself that question as i got up and poured myself a cup of iced green tea. sipping its sweetness. wondering about what goes on inside a dog's silky-soft, little head.

i guess no one really HAS to complain, do they?

we can't all BE dogs like i wish we could be, but we could all be a little more LIKE dogs, couldn't we?

we could accept our situation in life, happily eat what is set in front of us, be grateful for a roof over our heads as we sleep, and when we get the opportunity to play, to be thankful for it.

tongues flailing. tails wagging. ears bouncing. eyes shining.

it wouldn't be easy. complaining can be fun. and once one starts, it's hard to stop.

but as i set my tea down, pulled my grass-stained tennis shoes on, and prepared to face the world of overgrown grass, i determined that i would try not to complain anymore. i would try to be like a dog.

i like dogs.

your friend,
muffin

p.s. i wish i was european.