on leash today - enthusiasm laziness obstinance an odd weave of motivations tugging in different directions no one caring about the other one in eager pursuit of one thing one sitting on the sidelines one bracing their front legs, and me trying to decide how to move them along, make this work, together a day’s tough beginning oh, and walking three dogs this morning was no picnic either

my brother’s wife arranges huge celebrations for every relative’s birthday or anniversary, all holidays, really any occasion to gather family and single-handedly arrange all food, gifts and fun this Christmas was no different for twenty of us, with a feast and presents waiting at a rented ice-skating rink, so, it was a surprise a few days later when she texted me a Happy New Year on the morning of its eve when I joked, you’re a day early she broke down, writing about feel

scent of wet dog halfway home, the weather has a wardrobe change, clouds remove their loungewear, slip on rain-tapping dance shoes causing the dogs to adjust to a head down purpose, leaning forward and a quickened pace fur shrinks as it mats wet wavy curls drip Oliver’s freckles peek from his pink skin in the house, a pungent musk like damp leather but more feral a smell of wild, a scented connection, fragrant throwback the odor of wet wolf and as they madly rub b