When I was a little girl, I would dream of the day I would have my own home. I would picture it in my mind - a gorgeous 2 or 3 story home, complete with balcony, fireplace, spiral staircase, a horse barn and pasture, and acres of gardens off a bumpy dirt road, secluded in the forest. I thought I'd grow up, get married, move into a house, and start a family - very 1950s style. It would be an organic move from one home to the next. But what no one ever tells you is that when you move out you have to make a home. Home doesn't just happen.
I've been struggling for nearly four years to feel at home in various apartments in various cities. I'm embarrassed that it has taken me this long to accept that yes, I live in an apartment. This is our home. While it never automatically felt like home, I doubt that any place, even my dream house, would automatically feel like home.
Home is something you create through decor and tradition. Home is something you live through your actions and values. Home is love because of what you bring to it. Home is cozy because it's safe. Home is where you keep everything that is valuable to you - people, pets, things, thoughts, dreams... Home is just as much inside of you as it is a physical place, and whose to say you can't have more than one?
I'm not giving up on my dream house by any means, but I'm working towards creating a home to bring with me when I get there.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Dog of the Week: Shades!
This week's Dog of the Week is Shades - a gorgeous7 month gray and white pit bull mix.
I saw Shades on HSHV's website last week (www.hshv.org) and immediately fell in love. She's SO cute! This week, I got the chance to walk her.
When I stepped into her kennel, I was bombarded by dog. She was jumping all over me and wouldn't stay still enough to get the harness on. I was a little discouraged. I'd been walking a lot of difficult dogs, and I'd been hoping she'd be as easy as she is cute. I held her still and managed to get her leashed.
Once we got to the play yard, my whole perception of this dog changed. What a goofball! She loved chasing after her kong and would bring it back to me enthusiastically. She looked up at me with those puppy dog eyes and smiled a HUGE smile. Then, she flopped over and let me rub her belly, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. What a silly girl! She was all over me with cuddles.
On our walk, she did great. She only pulled a little, but that's expected as she is still a puppy. She was super goofy - she kept looking back at me as if to say, "Am I doing this right?". She responded to all my ques with tail wags and smiles.
This is one of the things I love about walking dogs at the shelter - you never know what to expect. A dog can begin a walk one way - in this case, with a bad impression - but by the end of the walk you want to take it home with you. It just goes to show that you can't judge a dog by it's photo or breed. Each dog is unique and worthy of a chance. Shades is no exception.
I saw Shades on HSHV's website last week (www.hshv.org) and immediately fell in love. She's SO cute! This week, I got the chance to walk her.
When I stepped into her kennel, I was bombarded by dog. She was jumping all over me and wouldn't stay still enough to get the harness on. I was a little discouraged. I'd been walking a lot of difficult dogs, and I'd been hoping she'd be as easy as she is cute. I held her still and managed to get her leashed.
Once we got to the play yard, my whole perception of this dog changed. What a goofball! She loved chasing after her kong and would bring it back to me enthusiastically. She looked up at me with those puppy dog eyes and smiled a HUGE smile. Then, she flopped over and let me rub her belly, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. What a silly girl! She was all over me with cuddles.
On our walk, she did great. She only pulled a little, but that's expected as she is still a puppy. She was super goofy - she kept looking back at me as if to say, "Am I doing this right?". She responded to all my ques with tail wags and smiles.
This is one of the things I love about walking dogs at the shelter - you never know what to expect. A dog can begin a walk one way - in this case, with a bad impression - but by the end of the walk you want to take it home with you. It just goes to show that you can't judge a dog by it's photo or breed. Each dog is unique and worthy of a chance. Shades is no exception.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dog of the Week: King!
Meet King!
King is a lovely black and white pit bull mix with a sad story. He was found locked up in a school yard with wounds on his face and neck - poor guy! Apparently someone dumped him over the fence! He's almost all healed up now and doing great. It's hard to imagine why someone would be so cruel to such a sweet dog.
King is a big fellow - as far as pits go - weighing in at over 50 lbs! I love big dogs, but I am slightly intimidated by them, at least until I get to know them. I was nervous about King. A beat up pit. A big pit. But he turned out to be a favorite. He is very obedient and smart - not to mention super goofy! When I asked him to sit, not only did he sit, but he lifted his paw up to shake as well. He really wanted that treat! He walks lovely on a leash and is a big, silly cuddle bug. Check out the evidence!
Be still my heart!
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