(by min, single mother of teens)
I just wanted to drive inside the loop, pick-up some papers and get home before rush hour started. I could do it if I hurried.
"Mom, will you take us to Blockbuster?
"
"No, I have an errand to run."
Reggie narrowed his eyes and slumped his shoulders as if I'd just told him that had gotten married.
"Can we go along?
" Violet suggested. "..
.And swing by Blockbuster when you get done?"
I didn't have time to think about it.
"Okay, but hurry and get in the car. I'm in a real rush."
I heard the front door close as I was still collecting my glasses, cell phone and my keys.
Tucking this survival equipment in the appropriate pockets of my jeans, I flew outside to see only Violet sitting in the car.
"Where's Reggie?" I asked her.
"Didn't he come out with you?"
"I told him to get in..
." she said looking around. "I don't know what happened to him.
"
Muttering, I threw the keys onto the driver's seat and started looking around.
I found him.
I have no explanation for this.
I don't know what he was doing or why, but at that moment, I didn't really care.
"Get in the car!"
He fell onto the pavement and took his time getting up and climbing into the vehicle.
It didn't take too long to get there, I managed to pick-up what I needed and figured I'd still beat the worst of the rush.
"Dogs taking a man out for a walk alert!" Violet hollered.
"What the Fu...
Hell?" Reggie said.
I glanced over to my left.
There on the sidewalk, I saw two little white dogs of questionable breed bouncing down the walkway followed by a great big man...
carrying a great big dog.
I stepped on the brake and watched him for a minute. He wasn't hurrying, he was just strolling along carrying his dog.
I rolled down my window.
"Is your dog okay?" I asked him.
"Oh yeah," the man smiled. "The dogs like to go walking, but this one, he has a deformity and can't walk much. He doesn't like to be left behind.
"
Okay. I rolled the window back up and drove on.
"Don't you have your camera?
" Violet asked. "Shouldn't we take his picture?"
I glanced at the dashboard clock that was getting closer to five o'clock and sighed.
"Yeah, let's go back."
By the time we got back to where we had left the man, he had turned into a little fenced yard and had put the dog down. I could see that his fore legs looked strange and not right.
He limped around a bit, but I could see how walking him conventionally would be impossible.
"Pick the dog up so that we can take your picture." Reggie wasn't shy.
The man smiled as if he got this request everyday and scooped up the large animal as easily as if it were a little kitten.
I could tell from his gentleness and easy manner that he had a special relationship with his deformed friend.
Even though, we ended up in the heart of the heavy traffic and it took us much longer to get home than I had hoped, it was worth it to go back and get the picture.
We stopped at the video store, picked-up a couple of DVD's and headed home where a nice was waiting to be enjoyed.
Bon appetit!!
Posted by Mindy Sterba at February 25, 2007 06:29 AM
I can just see that the dog loves it. Tail wagging and has that "doggie" smile. I love it.
What a great man.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 06:55 AM
Absolutely the sweetest story! Made my day.
Posted by: Christine at February 25, 2007 06:59 AM
Margaret--I complain enough about taking my dog for a walk...
now I feel lucky.
christine--thanks..
.it was worth the traffic.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 07:42 AM
1.
I want to marry that man.
2. Suet pudding.
Don't do it.
3. Do you ever suspect that Mark is just making up horrible recipes just to see if you'll eat them?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 08:02 AM
Jenny--1. I don't know his name, but I can show you where he lives. 2.
I liked this suet pudding stuff...
even the kids "sort of" liked it. It tastes like gingerbread. 3.
I don't know if mark makes this stuff up or not, but it's one sure fire way to keep him (or anybody) from coming over.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 08:19 AM
Was Reggie cartwheeling off the car or were you trying to run him over?
Posted by: Shuttle Mom at February 25, 2007 08:33 AM
What a sweet story!
!
And I don't think I even want to know what's in that Suet Pudding. I'm guessing your kids have the pizza place on speed dial when it's Dirty Uncle Mark Recipe Night?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 08:49 AM
shuttlemom--I'm never exactly sure what Reggie is doing...
or why. Running him over? That's something to consider.
..
Nicole P--They've read "Mommie Dearest".
They know that if they don't at least try it, it'll still be there four days from now. They also know where their friends live who have real moms who actually like their kids. They're not going to starve just because of dirtyunclemark.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 09:02 AM
min sweetums, i know i'm the last person to talk but (suet pudding with "any" sauce was waiting to be enjoyed.) you gotta get a boyfriend if you don't have one.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 09:30 AM
Okay how sweet is that man for "walking" his doggie!
! I wonder if he'd pick mine up along the way?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 10:04 AM
That guy walking his dog is amazing!
I mean, really!! How sweet!
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 10:12 AM
What a sweet man!
Reggie? What were you doin' there, Hon?
Also, way to curb your foul language...
..haha.
;^)
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 10:25 AM
plum--dearest darling, do you think any guy would really want a woman who makes codfish balls and suet pudding? Let's put it this way, I wouldn't want any man who would want a woman who makes codfish balls and suet pudding!
mommiebear2--I'm sure he could handle Paris too.
..he's a pretty big guy.
claudia--He is a sweet guy. I'd want to marry him, but Jenny has dibs.
Heather--Only Reggie knows what Reggie was doing.
I have given up trying to get inside his head.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 11:07 AM
I love this guy! You meet so many interesting people on your drives.
I think Reggie was breakdancing. Bringing it back for the new generation, maybe?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 11:26 AM
So, min, following your line of reasoning from your exchange with plum, you are saying you don't want any man at all?
Jenny's right - I'm making all these up, just for you. I spend all week forging old pages and making up the most outrageous things I can to see if you'll try them. You always do.
That's it. I'm done. I give up.
You probably shouldn't visit my blog on Sundays anymore though.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 01:21 PM
It's possible Reggie has invented the nation's next top group fitness class: Driveway Breakdancing Auto Yoga. He can become famous offering certification workshops to the masses.
Your tale sounds like my attempt yesterday to get to the bank before it closed. Due to some fire somebody on Louetta decided to have, it took me 45 minutes to get from Wal-Mart to the bank, and then back home. It's not even 5 miles.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 02:21 PM
yeah, i wouldn't want any man who would want me. i'd want someone with better taste. wasn't it marx who said " I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member?
"
i'm a bit of a marxist.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 02:34 PM
so, I was getting all mushy over the guy and his dog, and then you throw suet pudding at me?
what kind of mind-messing roller coaster ride are you running here?
?!!
eeew.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 02:48 PM
Aaron says hi!
So, no pics of the kids eating the pudding?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 03:09 PM
This was a nice post, until I got to the Suet pudding. Damn, that's some perseverance you got going there. Do you plan to make all of Mark's potentially lethal recipes?
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 03:56 PM
I,m with you. I couldn't tell you what Reggie was doing either, but if you look real close you can see he has his new glasses on. That has to be a plus.
Posted by: becky at February 25, 2007 04:20 PM
PS. That guy with the dog does seem like a nice guy, he's got one of those winning smiles.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 05:14 PM
Melissa--I used to want to learn how to break dance, but now I have to do the slow squat, brace with the hands and gently lower myself to the floor thing.
It makes it hard to keep up with the tempo. Reggie would be a natural!
Mark--of course I want a boyfriend.
I have a whole lot of chores and heavy lifting that I need done (No, Reggie won't do it!) Besides, did I say I didn't have a boyfriend? Maybe I do.
Maybe I have hundreds of them...
Maybe I have a different one every night...
maybe...
um...
wait a minute, this isn't exactly going the way I wanted it to.
Jenius--Those people who live on Louetta have a lot of nerve having fires! I'll talk to Reggie about the fitness thing, but I think the word "yoga" might kill the whole deal.
plum--It was indeed Groucho. It's nice to know that you're a bit of a Marxist, because I'm a bit of a Grouch.
Jenn--Throw suet pudding at you?
Well, that's one use for it, I guess. I realize there was a surprise mood shift in my blog. I guess I need to post a sign that says, "This blog not recommended for pregnant women, heart patients or infants".
It's a short ride.
Hi Aaron--Have you got a job yet? From your comment, I'd say you'd make a really good editor!
I did take pictures of the kids eating the pudding, but since both didn't care one way or the other about it, the expressions were very boring. It really tastes good..
.I think.
willowtree--with brains this week!
?! You bet!
Who could resist that? I guess my fat dog will be getting even fatter.
That guy does have a great smile and nice bright shoes.
becky (again)--I hadn't noticed that he had the glasses on. God you're good!!
I'll bet you find Waldo everytime!
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 06:47 PM
reggie is definitely bustin' a move on the back of that van. I'd be bustin' a hip if i tried that.
ah, youth.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 06:48 PM
Ok, Min, about the dancing--we're at the age where we're gently lowering it like it's warm rather than dropping it like it's hot. That's ok.
It's their turn, and my knees hurt.
And about the guy with the dog--may I just say again that I LOVE how you observe things that others (for example, me) would miss and then you give me a chance to enjoy them? I LOVE IT!
You see and capture the most wonderful things and, by so doing, you make the world a better place to live. Thanks!
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 09:33 PM
That guy and his dog warms the cockles of my heart.
Posted by: at February 25, 2007 11:39 PM
ThatGreenyFlower--this stuff is interesting? No, If I got a picture of a crazy lady standing on a house and vacuuming the shingles..
.that would be interesting! (some people take OCB a little too far).
Karmyn--Your heart has cockles? If they ever fall off, can I hang them from my ceiling?
Posted by: at February 26, 2007 12:13 AM
that dog looks like something from Dr.
Suess.
I've been gone - so late in checking blogs.
Did you really eat suet pudding.
Posted by: at February 26, 2007 02:13 AM
Hey, now, babes, no need to get PERSONAL!!!
Posted by: at February 26, 2007 07:17 AM
You and your kids are so open to seeing adventure in everyday life. I love that!
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