As I walked out the door, I immediately felt the wind hit my face. It was colder than I had expected. My hair lifted up and flew into my face, blocking my eyes. I turned quickly around, facing the door again, and with my one free hand reached up to pull my hair back. I looked down and watched Charlie for a second. The door had closed behind us and he was taking tentative steps forward. It was harder for him to gauge where things were when it was windy out, he couldn't hear everything and noises jumped from place to place. I gave him a minute to adjust while I hid my hair beneath my hood. I didn't have a ponytail on my wrist, so the hood would have to do for now.
Once we both seemed ready to brace the walk, we turned and headed out on our normal path. The intention was to spend some time at the dog park on the way back from our walk, but I wasn't so sure that was going to happen anymore. As we made our way to the sidewalk, I contemplated it. Despite the wind, it wasn't horribly chilly. We might be able to spend a few minutes there. I stepped up onto the sidewalk and pulled Charlie's leash tighter. He followed me up onto the sidewalk and we turned left toward the dog park.
Since we were on the sidewalk, Charlie knew where to go and started running ahead. Not by much, he smelled pretty much everything and had to stop and every bush and tree. The walk continued for several seconds with him running ahead, stopping to smell, me catching up and passing, then him running ahead again. I watched as he paused to sniff another tree, slowly circling it. He lifted up his head like he'd heard something and started sniffing the air. I looked around to see what he might have heard or smelled and noticed one of my neighbors on the second floor out on the balcony. He was leaning over the railing, smoking a cigarette. I smiled and waved up at him. He smiled and called down, "Hi Charlie!"
I looked at Charlie to watch his reaction. He started barking and I laughed. "Always the tough guy, huh?" I waved again to the neighbor and turned Charlie to keep walking toward the park. He looked up one last time, and then turned to follow me further down the sidewalk. As we neared the dog park, I heard the gate clanking open and shut loudly. Someone had forgotten to click it closed and the wind was swinging it open and shut. As Charlie paused to sniff an area of grass, I looked toward the park. It was empty. Not unusual considering the weather. I preferred it empty, but I know Charlie would have preferred to have someone run around in there with.
I stood at the end of the sidewalk and thought over my choices. We could cross the street and go to the dog park for a few minutes, or we could turn left and make our way back home. As if knowing my conundrum, the wind seemed to choose that time to pick up and I immediately felt a chill. I looked at Charlie. He didn't seem affected by it. He happily pranced from one area to the next. On our walk this morning, I had promised him we would go to the park today. I felt bad taking that back now seeing how happy he was to be out and walking. I sighed and took a step forward, toward the dog park. Just a few minutes to let him run around wouldn't hurt...
Once we both seemed ready to brace the walk, we turned and headed out on our normal path. The intention was to spend some time at the dog park on the way back from our walk, but I wasn't so sure that was going to happen anymore. As we made our way to the sidewalk, I contemplated it. Despite the wind, it wasn't horribly chilly. We might be able to spend a few minutes there. I stepped up onto the sidewalk and pulled Charlie's leash tighter. He followed me up onto the sidewalk and we turned left toward the dog park.
Since we were on the sidewalk, Charlie knew where to go and started running ahead. Not by much, he smelled pretty much everything and had to stop and every bush and tree. The walk continued for several seconds with him running ahead, stopping to smell, me catching up and passing, then him running ahead again. I watched as he paused to sniff another tree, slowly circling it. He lifted up his head like he'd heard something and started sniffing the air. I looked around to see what he might have heard or smelled and noticed one of my neighbors on the second floor out on the balcony. He was leaning over the railing, smoking a cigarette. I smiled and waved up at him. He smiled and called down, "Hi Charlie!"
I looked at Charlie to watch his reaction. He started barking and I laughed. "Always the tough guy, huh?" I waved again to the neighbor and turned Charlie to keep walking toward the park. He looked up one last time, and then turned to follow me further down the sidewalk. As we neared the dog park, I heard the gate clanking open and shut loudly. Someone had forgotten to click it closed and the wind was swinging it open and shut. As Charlie paused to sniff an area of grass, I looked toward the park. It was empty. Not unusual considering the weather. I preferred it empty, but I know Charlie would have preferred to have someone run around in there with.
I stood at the end of the sidewalk and thought over my choices. We could cross the street and go to the dog park for a few minutes, or we could turn left and make our way back home. As if knowing my conundrum, the wind seemed to choose that time to pick up and I immediately felt a chill. I looked at Charlie. He didn't seem affected by it. He happily pranced from one area to the next. On our walk this morning, I had promised him we would go to the park today. I felt bad taking that back now seeing how happy he was to be out and walking. I sighed and took a step forward, toward the dog park. Just a few minutes to let him run around wouldn't hurt...
Comments
Post a Comment