Well hello my lovelies. Russell-the-Relentless here. Finally, I’ve been given another guest blog spot. Yes, you’re right it has been over a year since I was last allowed on the blog! However, thanks to Madeleine from the Low Down for highlighting my essential contributions in her recent article about Wandering Wakefield, I find myself allowed to write another post.
I’ve just turned six, and although people do tell Gillie that I seem a bit calmer, it is actually not quite true. I have marginally better impulse control than when I wrote this blogpost, but I am determined never to lose my inner puppy.
In her article, Madeleine kindly gave me the title of canine about town (C.A.T. for short). I was thrilled to impart the news to Titan, the village cat, that, actually, I am the village C.A.T. As you can see, Titan was not impressed. He told me in no uncertain terms that there is only room for one cat about town, and that’s him. He did concede that I could be the Wakefield D.O.G. (Designated Official Greeter).
I’ve been working on being a D.O.G. for my entire life, and as Gillie says, it’s still a work in progress. I find it challenging. As we walk through the village every day, me as the C.A.T., and Gillie with her wandering mind, we have to make a decision about everyone we meet. Are they dog-friendly (can you imagine anyone not being dog-friendly?). Will they want to say hello? Will they tolerate being knocked over and licked to within an inch of their lives? Over my six years, and now with the title of D.O.G. I recognize that brief encounter could have a major impact on how visitors remember Wakefield. It’s a huge responsibility.
Gillie and I have worked on the “with me” command; I’m supposed not to make any attempt at contact and to remember that I’m walking with Gillie. If someone says “what a handsome dog” or other such factual statements, I’m permitted to trot towards them a little, and, only if they ask to pet me, am I allowed contact. However, there are those people who are so excited to meet me, and who know I’m a “Springer, or Pointer, or English setter” that I’m given enough leash to launch myself at them. And then, of course, there are the people that I know, and I can’t contain my excitement at seeing them.
When I’m not being the C.A.T. or the D.O.G., I try to keep my nose to the ground. It’s important to keep up with the latest pee-mail and ascertain what’s going on in the village.
Did you read the latest Wandering Wakefield blog post, Wandering: a Way of Life? Gillie was telling me about it the other day, likely to try and deflate my ego about being not only the Wakefield C.A.T., but also the Wakefield D.O.G. “Some people go wandering,” she said, “as a way of finding themeselves, leaving behind their jobs, their routines. Remember, you are not your job” she said “You are more than that, you are you. Always at home in your own fur.” I thought it was a load of dog’s drool myself. But the more I thought about it, the more I started to lean into what she was saying.
My people were away a fair bit this year, leaving me behind. Personally, I cannot understand why anyone would want to travel. I try to avoid car rides as much as possible. I stayed with Dave at Domaine D’Histoire, where I assumed the role of Park Greeter and Warden for a few weeks. Running around like I always do, in and out of the trees, playing “I have a stick, chase me”, I was fully at home in my fur. And then the next time they went away, Gail came to stay with me. That was special. You may have seen me in the village proudly trotting by her side. I realized that I didn’t need to be attached to Gillie, I was still myself, still as Relentless as ever, needing only the slightest correction from Gail (and a whole whack of treats) to moderate my enthusiasm.
Towards the end of Gail’s visit, we went for a walk by the river. I was, by now, quite myself and plonked down in my usual morning spot. Gail couldn’t move me, so she texted Gillie, “Is this normal?” Gillie laughed. “That’s the real Russell”, she texted back. “Every day, he sits and meditates by the river. You may be there a while!”
Gillie talks to me about the news, about the terrible things that humans are doing to each other and to the earth. I find it difficult to listen to. So, I like to take my time in the morning. To breathe the river air, to sit in silence and contemplate. Not to dwell on the hatred and awfulness going on in the world, but just to hold space for those who are suffering. I listen to my inner puppy, and then allow myself to reflect a little on what it means to be both the Wakefield C.A.T. and D.O.G. It is a huge responsibility, one that I don’t take lightly, committing every day to spread a little bit of joy where I can.
Licks to you all, ’til next time.
R-t-R
Russell the Relentless, LOL (lover of life), CAT, DOG, Wakefield, QC: Instagram handle Russell_the_Relentless
Wandering Wakefield 