A while ago I took Eirinn and Bosco to a local nature area (I am the secretary on the nature area’s management advisory committee) to take some photos and to get out of the house for a few hours. In theory, a lovely idea. I though I’d give Bosco some exercise while showing Eirinn where all the birdies and fishies live. Maybe even see a squirrel or a frog. In my mind they were both going to have a grand time – Eirinn would rejoice in all that nature has to offer, Bosco would heal the entire time, and I was going to get some fabulous shots.
What was I thinking? Have I met our daughter? Did I forget that our dog is certifiably untrainable? It turned out to be the most nerve-gratingly stressful 3 hours of my entire 27 years.
The dog started barking before we even left our driveway and didn’t stop until about a mile into our walk. That was just about the exact same time that Eirinn started yelling and trying to climb out of her stroller. Oh, and I forgot her big stroller and had to use the flimsy collapsible one that lives in my trunk. Not ideal for off-roading. During one of her fits, Eirinn threw her shu-shu (soother) overboard, stealthily. I ran it over. By this point I was practically running back to the car.
Worst. Walk. Ever.
A few footnotes:
1. I do apologize ever so humbly to those who were also at the Nature Area that day. Especially that group of photographers. I’m sure the barking and screeching scared away anything with a pulse.
2. I, however, did get some wonderful shots of the flora. See? But no wildlife (see above).
3. I have learned my lesson and will not be taking the child and dog on walks alone. And they will be much shorter. And I will drug them. With love.
