The best thing that happened yesterday was that I got an increasingly-rare chance to speak with one of my dearest friends, Shelley, last night. We’re both so busy, and live so far apart…of course, we work about six feet from each other (I exaggerate: it’s maybe a quarter of a mile if I squint) so none of this makes sense, unless you have our schedules at our respective jobs.

The best thing that happened today was that we found Elmer.

I’ll let that sink in a bit.

I got home from work and he did what he usually does: stand and bark at me until I play with him. I was a bit annoyed, and put him out back.

I put him outside, not knowing that the back gate was wide open. After about fifteen minutes I thought to look for him, and Cole (who was reasonably sure he was the one who left the gate open) ran a few miles around the neighborhood looking for the little guy.

I ran down our street myself, screaming for him…he’s an idiot about everything (Elmer, not Cole) and we live so close to a major, major street. And too close to a freeway, when you’re running down the street envisioning the worst.

I came home to get in the car to look for him, only to see Dad, Interrupted walking down the street from the other direction holding an uncomfortable hound. A hound who ran to a neighbor’s house, where DI promptly collected him and carried him back to me, bad back and all. (Dad, Interrupted, not Elmer.)

I’m so relieved. I couldn’t have borne it if….nope. Can’t even think about it.

But once again, DI did exactly what he always does: fixes everything and makes it better.  I love you.

© E. Stocking Evans 2013