October falls away from summer’s sunlight, reaching out like a woman on a bus, reaching to touch her lover one last time. He gazes at her, eyes radiant with love and the promise he’ll return, but for all the reach, she is lonelier than if he’d walked away, back turned, never to look back.
Even though November kicks out daylight savings and the earth’s tilt welcomes long nights, November tumbles into community like people gathering around the grieving, quietly reminding us that our beloved dead are close by, separated by nothing more than a sheer curtain.
The second Tuesday we blacken circles like we did in school, noting the men and women we’d like to see in office. (We chatted with neighbors saying, “Never before have we stood in line like this year.”)
On November 11, we celebrate our veterans who sacrifice life, limb and sanity to protect that right to vote and to speak freely. We lay hands on our hearts and flowers on graves, another community of the dead and the living.
November ends with a feast. We give thanks, swap stories about the good things, the difficult things. We light candles against the dark, add the delight of Christmas trees. We wait. We shop. We hope for peace on earth, good will toward men.
Yes, November tumbles into community and this November the Andraskis will welcome a puppy, who might just bring a glimpse of sunrise and a bit of joy and mostly chaos.
I’m Katie Andraski and that’s my perspective.
If you’d like to hear me read this, click here.
It wasn’t just Moses who saw the burning bush. I think we all do, by simply beholding the ordinary, and good creation. All this reminds me that Lately I’ve been seeing flashes of that burning in sunrises and how light finds its way. that God isn’t off on the other side of the visible universe but right here, right now. Jesus fills all in all. His presence as near as breath. The unspeakable name of God is the sound of breath in, breath out.
I could write more about this, but don’t have the words. I hope you take time to behold the world. Now for the puppy who arrived a week ago.
Since Dolly is eleven, I thought it might be a good idea to get another dog because I don’t want to be without. She’s also turning out to be a good playmate for the pup. We’ve named her Omalola, a name she’s learned quickly and is fun to say when calling her back. Her breeder, Leida Jones had a litter this fall and sent this little girl to us. This will be the fourth dog we’ve gotten from her. (Nate, Booker and Night have been marvelous companions, with a lot of soul and very stable temperaments.) Leida Jones (Pennycaerau) thought Omalola be a good match because she wasn’t as busy as the other pups. They must be very busy. Leida mentioned a friend of hers, Matthew Twitty comes to Illinois to conduct obedience clinics. I figured we might have to go to southern Illinois to pick her up. But it turns out that he trains at K9 Junction, about twenty minutes away. It seemed providential for him to bring her to us.
Omalola is a lot of dog, like all puppies, chewing everything, into everything, running hard with Dolly when we’re walking together. We are working on house training, but winter is a miserable time for quick trips outside. And I was sick this first week, so that added to the challenge. Thank goodness she is letting us sleep through the night. We’re averaging one accident a day. Thank goodness for Nature’s Miracle. A friend suggested we engage her mind. Bruce has been a marvelous help, watching her, taking her out when I can’t.
Omalola is very bright, very alive, already with soul and giving Dolly more confidence. Thank goodness for her crate, because when she’s tired, Oma is stretched out belly up sleeping.
Here’s a picture of the kind of days we are dealing with. If anyone has any advice on how to take care of a puppy these first weeks, I’ll be happy for your advice.
