atlas says: i am very sensible. why does elizabeth not listen?
on monday, i helped my dad shovel. it was seven degrees below zero and the wind chill factor made it much much colder, but i was bundled up and happy to be outside and moving.
usually, atlas calmly watches me shovel from the window. that day, he did not. he barked and barked and barked. i heard his (extremely loud) bark through the walls.
finally, i let him come outside. he ran around me a few times, nipped at my mitten, then went to the garage door. i brought him inside, then came back out to shovel.
i figured that was the end of it. he saw what i was doing; he remembered that he didn’t want to be outside; he would calmly watch or take a nap. but no, he barked and barked and barked some more.
later that day, something occurred to me.
when he barked, what if he was saying, “it’s too cold! come in! come in! come in!”
when he nipped at my mitten, what if he was trying to pull me inside.
oh, atlas. here you were trying to take care of me and keep me safe, and i didn’t even listen.
oh elizabeth!
that is JUST what he was doing!
remember before when he simply watched you from the window? he didn’t bark then.
this time he KNEW it was even dangerous.
what a love he is. that silky silver boy you have.
xo
But of course! Atlas is totally your living, breathing guardian angel. What a great story – just because they don’t speak English, sometimes we don’t give them enough credit. I’m going to remember this!
Hugs to both of you – it looks like it should be warming up at least a teeny bit…
You listened but did not hear, maybe you heard but did not understand. Atlas did what friends do. He was watching out for you. He knew it was not safe outside for him and he assumed it was true for you too.
He has not learned the advantage of clothes.
Jerry: He really hasn’t. Clearly! Since he is very resistant when I put them on him. Hehehe.
Patty: It is! It is 15 degrees today, just glorious. We just came back from a 2 mile walk. Happy happy. Atlas so needed it.
Tammy: He is a love indeed. I so appreciate him.