Enter Gabby, a reddish colored lab/mix puppy into the picture and my life. You or someone you know may have done this. You go to the animal rescue place just to “look around.”  I’m pretty sure rarely does someone do that and walk away empty handed. So there she was – all sweet and cute, napping quietly on a fluffy pillow when we met. She opened her sleepy eyes, raised her little head and we bonded. Yep, right then and there I knew she was coming home with me. But alas, I fought off the initial attraction. I decided to walk her around the parking lot a little just to be sure she was ‘the one.’ Turns out, she was.

Fast forward a couple weeks later, when that quietly sleeping little lovely came out of her shell. One day I walked in the living room to what looked like drifts of snow, with her hiding underneath. (Who really needs couch cushions anyway?) And my lawn. That once-green lush carpet was now dirt bike heaven, except for the holes. How can one cute little puppy dig a hole twice her own size in 2 minutes flat? Sweet little Gabby could. 

Time for a little ruff love. It started out innocent enough. I’d come home from work tired and hungry, but would first change into shorts and lace up the running shoes, leash her in her glorious excitement and off we’d go for our walk. Our usual route took about an hour, which I decided one hot summer day was too long. So the obvious solution was to pick up the pace, but cover the same ground. The leisurely walk became a hasty trot. And the trot ultimately became a swift run. Wow – what a change in her personality and behavior. So much calmer, happier, just prancing like she was queen of the neighborhood.  It became our “thing.”

In the years to follow, I couldn’t even pick up my running shoes, or put on a pair of “swooshy” sounding shorts without her bringing me her leash with that familiar doggy smile. (yes, dogs do smile!) Clearing our minds, working up a sweat, releasing all our cares, and burning up some energy – we did it together.

So when you think you are too tired…and that sweet-faced, tail-wagging friend brings you their leash, you will find the energy to lace up the shoes and get your own tail moving, whether it’s walking or running. Better yet, you might just learn a thing or two about yourself along the way.

RIP my sweet Gabby (1997-2007)