Invisible Squeeze

I don't presently recall the exact date of Thanks Giving last year, which probably makes me a bad Auntie. However, on the day before that date I can't remember, my little sis gave birth to her third child, and first baby boy. That, in and of itself is amazing and bizarre in countless ways. Not the least of which is the hilarity of watching a multi-generational family of female dominance, try to gracefully change that diaper...I manage, with impressive genius and stealth, to have avoided that task as of yet. Mwaaahhaha!

Anyway, point being, along with the announced presence of my new nephew in the world, came the announced presence of a certain husky/blue heeler/coyote mutt, into my life. As my little sis's parenting world became officially outnumbered by children, I officially became her dog-sitter. In the realm of possibilities for job descriptions and ways in which I could lend a hand, I am rather thrilled with my luck. Kaiya, the dog, is by far the best running, skiing, outdoor anything pal, a girl could ask for in the form of a four-legged fuzz brain.

I mention Kaiya, because along with being a fantastic workout buddy, she is also an phenomenal mirror. Kaiya has helped me to see just how amazing I must look while I am wandering about, whining over my calculus course and the horrific wrongs being done to me by the education system.

When Kaiya gets excited about something, especially going for a walk, she starts to constrict her airway on the exhale, feigning stress, and stares intently at you. I ask what it is like, being squeezed by a giant, invisible hand, and inquire as to whether her dog world is over or if she will survive the torment of the horrible, neglected, beaten and abused life that she leads. She occasionally listens, and then responds by breaking into full, tortured howls, which makes me laugh and beg her to shut up before the neighbors turn us in for illegally harboring a dog in the house. I think she was a blues singer in a past life. That, and a cotton wood tree in full shed. I think I might have been a dog. Running, sleeping, eating and howling sounds like an awful lot of fun...especially when I'm supposed to be doing my calculus.