Continue On

Election night did not go the way I felt it should.  The differences between the two choices were as wide as the Grand Canyon.  Clearly, to me and many others,  the path to take was the higher road.  Not enough people felt the same way and we are now on a very different road, hopefully still forward.   The disappointment is deep and not to be overly dramatic, but also devastating.

A friend sent me a poem that has helped me pick my chin up, still neutral but it’s not hanging!   Leave it to friends, and leave it to words.   My mantra has become – Continue On!   The poem (included) inspires one to – Continue right where you are.  Continue to set the best example for the children. Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.   Internalizing this message it became – Continue to be your best version of a dog owner.   Continue to be a good neighbor.  Continue to feel the love & comfort of family & friends.   And Holly needs help with her jumps, it’s time to continue on!

We were gifted with the best tutor in town! DeeAnn (and Keltie) agreed to help Holly with her jumps at the dog club.  DeeAnn started with the jump height as a board on the floor.  Keltie goes, Holly goes.  We detected some reservation from Holly but running side by side with Keltie erased all her doubts.  She could jump over the moon if Keltie was next to her.   The dogs jumped over and over, back and forth with the height getting a tad higher but not surpassing 12 inches.  Holly left happy and confident.  Her next attempt is at next Monday’s class.  Continue on Holly!

Close to my home is Old Main Park, basically a large field where the former Old Main UMD Building once stood.  A nasty fire consumed the building in the early 2000’s.  Salvaged was the monumental arches from three sides of the building.  It’s been the backdrop of many wedding, graduation and prom pictures.     We visit Old Main often.  I think Holly considers it her own backyard, so much so that I drive Holly there in the car so she doesn’t learn the walking route.  It’s 1/2 block away from the house.  The arches survived a fire and have withstood the test of time –  still standing and serving as a memory marker for many students, families and neighbors.  Now where the building once stood is a large flat grassy area that provides a makeshift soccer field for young athletes, a peaceful setting for picnicers and ponderers, and a dream frisbee field for dogs and their peep’s.   The fire burned the building down, but it couldn’t take away the setting for community, reflection and joy.

Continue on.