When I shower, I leave the door to the bathroom cracked open a little so it doesn't get all steamy. I can do this because I live by myself. Or mostly by myself, as I was reminded this morning when halfway through my shower, the shower curtain moved, and then drew back just a little. This startled me, but then I saw the black nose and brown muzzle and started laughing while Jin peeked in and looked at me and then withdrew his head. When I climbed out of the shower a couple minutes later, he was right there waiting expectantly with his tail wagging, and I had to reach over him to grab my towel. It was a bit awkward, but I found that his complete inability to grasp the awkwardness of the situation was awfully endearing.
I think that a lot about my dog - when I'm eating something delicious and he drools onto my foot, or when I pick up his leash and he's completely unable to contain his excitement, or when we're riding in the car and he steps up into the front and starts licking my ear, or when I'm showering and he decides he's lonely and would like to come visit. Or even when I'm petting him, and he decides he's just really more interested in some imperceptible (to me) smell on the other side of the room. He never thinks, Will she be offended if I move away and go check out that scent? or Will she think it's weird if I start licking her ear while she's driving? or Am I being too obvious if I stare at her cheeseburger? Oh dang, I think I just drooled. How embarrassing.
I love that about my dog. While Jin may feel anxious or depressed or happy or excited, the feelings "awkward" and "self conscious" are just not part of his emotional palette. Being human, I can feel those things. And as a consequence I spend a lot of time holding back or moderating what I'm really thinking, and wondering whether other people are doing the same. Of course, my self-awareness also allows me a level of self-regulation, without which I could not make productive use of my time or get along with other people or do a lot of things that humans need to do, but it's still refreshing that with my dog, I never have to wonder, or to wonder if he's wondering.
[On a completely unrelated note, I have updated my book blog again: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, and The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker.]
4 comments:
We bring Tigger into the shower with us when he needs to be bathed. I figure it's like when you do that to wash a baby. Probably it's different, though.
That's what I love most about dogs--absolutely no guile.
It's amazing how pets integrate into your life.
The other day, Gwen needed to lie down on the couch for a bit, because her back was hurting due to the pregnancy. Our dog Kaylee saw that she wasn't feeling well, came over, and put her rubber bone on her thigh, they just lay there to be with her.
TMI Me!
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