I had been craving baby energy around the house, for months. I had thought that a sweet, little kitten would be the perfect solution to my angst. Mewling just long enough for me to feel fulfilled by a 'mommy' role, yet independent enough to reside within many worlds, - including both that of the indoors and those of the out. With a cat, I could continue to come and go as I pleased, - leaving provisions on the back porch in times of a long sojourn. With a cat, I could still somewhat solely focus on my insular, meager world. With a cat, - that my partner was not amused at the thought of sharing his most intimate of living spaces with.
As an avid adventurer, I have spent an adult life ridiculing the dog owner. "Such pesky, high maintenance creatures they are!" I would self-righteously blurt out to any unsuspecting ears. For weeks, I vainly decried the plight of a canine, - their attachment to people and places; the basic needs which can only be met by their pathetic owners; and the whack jobs who attach those random bumper stickers onto their fast moving vehicles (such as, "Your honor student is just a pawn in my beagle's plot for world domination") and who just so happen to be their human 'parents.' Yet, it was that joyful, bounding energy of youth that I was seeking. Did it honestly matter in what form that energy was wrapped?
In the end, just as in every end, a compromise was reached. And the very next day, a call came in.
"A black lab needs a home."
Who were we to say "No," especially when the universe was so obviously conspiring? So, we drove east, to an apartment complex in El Cajon where my partner's nephew resides. Their neighbor's husband had taken a six-hour trip, to the desert and back, in order to pick up two ebony puppies. Unbeknownst to him, his wife was not so willing to sacrifice. She had sent the two babies off before their presumptive adoptive father returned home from work the following day. Thus, it is how Power came to be our beaming bundle of standard shots, expensive exams, pungent shit, pounds of food, squeak toys, and gnawing teeth.
Initially, I suggested "Sweet Pea" (as in Poppy and Olive's only child) as a name, but we both agreed that we wanted something that sounded a tad bit stronger. Mario recalled his childhood days of dog ownership, as he conjured up the image of one of his beloved dogs, "Fuerza." "I like it," I responded. Then I added, "Black Power." "Black Power Obama," Mario chimed in. We giggled at the thought but we both enjoyed the reference and the representation. No disrespect intended.
Immediately, life as I had known it was completely changed. Upon getting up in the morning and coming home from anywhere, the thoughts in my head are no longer singularly about me and my needs. "It is breakfast time," chimes at 7am. "How's Power?" rings throughout the day and night. When away from home for long stretches of time, I now keep myself on a short leash. "It has been five hours," I think. "It is not fair of me to go and play when my dog is at home, waiting."
Then, of course, there is the simple fact that whenever I am out with Power I am almost guaranteed an encounter with my same kind! Power, being the wise soul that he is, punctures most walls. Again and again, he shows that my insecurities are my biggest folly. Over and over, he repeatedly demonstrates how simple it is to simply go up and say 'Hi.'
Since the end of March, we have continued to negotiate in relationship to one another. All isn't perfect in the game of love, however. As a puppy, he was consistently sinking his sharp teeth into my thin skin. And now, as an adolescent, he still prefers to gnaw on my arm a to gnawing on a stationary bone. This makes for difficult moments, as there have been times when he has hurt me. There have also been other times when I have hurt him back.
Nonetheless, he is consistently great with other people and animals. He is a true lap dog and people person. He has no qualms in asking the everyday passer-by for a little attention and, beware, at Dog Beach he just may plop down right beside you, on your towel. He is fascinated by other living creatures and he plays really well with other dogs. I have always honored and nurtured these traits in him. Even as we struggle through our days together,
