My dog Dexter seems to like our walks. We start off at my house and walk down Van Karajan Dr. I live in a tract someone nicknamed Symphony Hill years ago because most all the streets are named after conductors: Toscanini, Beecham, Stokowski Court (3 houses) and Van Karajan Drive. Unfortunately, the city misspelled the name of the famous former conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Poor Herbert Von Karajan (Von Car Ahan) has been pronounced Van Karajan (Van Care Ajan) for the past 62 years. Occasionally a classical music fan will try to correct me as I spell out my address. Van Karajan Drive is quite steep and if covered with snow and moguls would make a good Double Black Diamond Run. Before I got Dexter, and after I turned sixty-five, I always drove down the hill and parked my car to begin my walk.
Now I decided to shorten the walk and brave the ascent. Getting the dog in and out of the car is way too much of a hassle.
Walking with a 4-month-old puppy on a leash going downhill is scary since at any moment he can make a sharp left turn and trip me. I kinda look like that plump lady prancing slightly behind her the best-in-show contender at Westminster except I’m continually screaming “NO!!” as my pooch tries to turn. Dexter loves to rub his side along the block walls, hedges and bushes that border the sidewalk. At each driveway he makes a sharp right turn to explore the parked cars. He also sniffs leaves, turds, lizards and all pavement cracks. When I get home, I’m amazed how sore my right arm is from controlling him. Uphill is better because I don’t have as far to fall, and Dexter helps a bit by tugging me along.
We often run into neighbors walking their dogs. At first, since Dexter didn’t quite have all his shots, I kept him safely away. If I noticed someone ahead with a dog, I’d cross the street and wave. Dexter is something of a chick magnet which makes the walks a lot more fun as nice ladies tending their gardens come over to pet him. The questions are always the same -- as are the answers: 4 months, Mini Aussie Shepherd, male. “He is sooo cute!” “What’s his name?” One couple today laughed when I answered, “Dexter” since that’s the name of a mass murderer on a new T. V. series. “Kinda apropos” I said.
Since I live at the top of a steep hill it’s amazing how many neighbors I’ve met going downhill. Many, like me, are longtime homeowners who I’ve waved at for years but never talked to. The other day a man asked where I lived. After I told him he said. “Are you the author.”
A few years ago, I built one of those little libraries to put it in my front garden. Since I have plenty of unsold copies of my books, I included them in my collection. The man told me he had read several and liked them. He is now my favorite neighbor since readers of several of my books are quite rare.
I had a long talk today with someone whose name I forgot. I’ve driven by the guy for years and always marveled a what great shape he was in. He’s also forever involved in some major project like removing all his grass to install artificial grass. Today he was washing his own car. He doesn’t even wear a T-shirt. “I’ll bet I’m the same age you are.” He said, noticing my pear-shaped torso. Well, it turns out he was ten years younger! After that encounter, I tucked in my tummy and headed up Van Karajan Drive. Dexter seemed to walk a little prouder too.
Don't let him shame you. He's washing his own car.