If this were a puzzle clue, we wouldn’t need to call a lifeline for help.
I thought it would happen later today, but when Banner went outside this morning, her expression looked like someone who had been surprised with the sincerest, most caring gift possible, as if the sun rose at that moment and smiled all around her. There was a lovely blanket of snow, only a few inches deep, but it was as if she didn’t think she would encounter so much joy again, ever.
It has been a warm winter so far, and a couple of weeks ago I began running the fireplace because of a few very low nights. So, inside it has been warmer than she would prefer. There are cooler places to lie, but she wants to be near.
Today however, this girl, who is usually wherever I am, sometimes within half a step or less, sometimes lying nearby in a gentle snooze, is so enamored with the wonder that if I won’t join her, she will lie indulgently in the snow and watch and listen to her surroundings without me. The dog door is getting a workout. I hear it open and close occasionally, as she comes in to check on me, to show me the splendor by her expression and hope to entice me to join her. I get to share a taste of the joy by the cold wet face on my jeans. Within a short time, she is lying in the snow again, not distracted for a moment by any concern.
When she first went out, she ate as much as she could hold, but unlike her food dish, there is no stopping point. And speaking of dinner, there is a smell that is beginning to reprioritize her interests, with some conflict. Should she trust me to supervise myself in the kitchen?
She has laid down near me again for a while, and all of the snow that had accumulated on top and all that stuck on the bottom is now very wet. Since the humidifier isn’t keeping up, that won’t last long. And her being inside won’t last long either.
Hoping that all Newfs in the snow zone are enjoying their Saturday. And that all of their humans are tucked in warmly tonight.
She may not lift a front paw, straighten her tail and go into a rigid posture, but when Banner points, humans (need to) listen. Clearly pointers think that humans are hard of hearing and you have to take extra measures to assure that your point lands.
This morning, after a low of around 16, dogs woke up early, urgently needing to go outside, and the fireplace held only a few coals. So, the human had to emerge from the warmth of the bed, pull back the comforter, find the sweats and shoes in the dark, and start the morning a bit early. This is probably my fault for saying that I couldn’t wait to have my cup of coffee in the morning when I was getting ready for bed.
Once the basics were covered, Banner and I went to the kitchen. Coffee was the first thing on my mind, but Banner went into a point in front of the refrigerator. I talked to her, but she kept her focus. I thought she must be hungry. Sometimes when you wake up, even after a good meal, you can be very hungry. So I opened the refrigerator door to remove half and half for my coffee and milk for her oatmeal, then as I closed the door, I realized what she wanted, something on the other side of the frig. She was remembering the banana cake that Greg made, a large sheet cake with sour cream frosting. We had been sharing a piece every day, and her expression conveyed her evaluation of his work. Sometimes when Greg is preparing for travel, he cooks ahead, which is very nice. There is also a chicken stew that is hot for dinner, and once for lunch. By the time he gets back, I will be tired of chicken stew, for a while. There won’t be much banana cake left.
Emotion is a strong driver of memory. When we have a sudden emotion about something, it has a better chance of retention than if we do not have an emotional reaction. The same is true for learning in classes; the more enthusiastic you are about a subject, the easier it is to retain what you’ve learned. This surely applies to all animals, given that we share the same to very similar wiring, and learning serves the critical purpose of survival. And banana cake, per Greg’s recipe, is an emotional experience!
Over the years (decades), we have taken the Newfs with us on night drives to see Christmas light displays. Mostly, the reaction has been, “meh”. What entertains humans is sometimes a mystery to Newfs.
This year, Central Park in Carthage is lit up with strings of lights encircling the trees, some white, some gold, with red, green and blue interspersed. About a block from the square through a canopy of lights, a Santa’s Village area has been constructed, with climbing belts, an “ice” rink (membrane that endures ice skates), snowmen and a lot of activity.
Christmas Lights – Central Park 2021, landscape
Joy is clearly transmissive. When we become aware of the joy of another being, it has the ability to free us from our daily concerns, to reprioritize our awareness. And when we smile sincerely, we share our joy with others. Banner loves to share her joy.
We took her for a walk at the park on Friday evening, our first since the project was completed. She lit up. People were happy and energy was radiating throughout the park as people continued to arrive. This part of town was filled with people making happy sounds, some walking with their dogs. Banner directed us around the park, then took one of the trails into the park. [Mom was in the background saying, “OK, but your vet said to keep this short.” She has an appointment next week about an injury, but like most Newfs, there are priorities that interfere with pain reception, or provide some temporary relief under certain circumstances as long as they don’t overdo it.]
The weather has been fabulous for being outside, with near 70s for humans and cool ground for Newfs. On Saturday, she wanted to lie outside by the van as she has done for the past several weekends, while we (or I) work inside. I read what she was hoping and reprioritized. The next steps were two-person work, and Greg wasn’t here, so I opened the side door and began reviewing, thinking about how to overcome a challenge involving three-dimensional angles and curves. I did a couple of minor things, and after a while I told her that I had to run some errands. She had been out long enough to mostly satisfy her longing.
When I got back just before dark, she wanted to go outside with some level of urgency, as though she needed to take care of some outdoor business. That wasn’t it. I encouraged her anyway, and she obliged. When she came back running, she didn’t want to go inside. Instead, she tried to lead me back to where the cars are parked. This is a form of a Newfoundland request. We had already gone to the park for a morning walk, but she clearly wanted to go again. Then I realized that she remembered how much fun it was last night. I contacted Greg, who said he could be back by 8.
Rather than decrease her enthusiasm, I took her inside and told her that we needed to make dinner first. She wasn’t buying it, even though liver [her favorite] was cooking on the stove. She had approved the selection for dinner not long before, but her interest was clear. And again, like a good Newf often does, she took her disappointment for granted and laid down. By the time that Greg had arrived, her thoughts were on dinner, but when the invitation was made to leave, even with dinner cooling on the stove, she quickly accepted with little ambivalence.
Her genuine happiness at these experiences is uplifting, and she shares joy in every interaction. Her happy gait and dance, with her head up, brings a smile from people who stop to watch from their car window or who stop to pet her on the sidewalk, and this is increased with each interaction. There may be a remaining Scrooge or two, people who can resist the collective influence of social joy, but perhaps they experience a certain kind of joy in their critical views. Banner is happy to do her part, in any case.
Afterward we drove around looking at displays in the neighborhood, then we cruised on to the Vietnamese monastery, where there is an elaborately lighted drive-thru celebration of the Bible. The lines were too long, so we skirted two sides and drove home. Maybe another time. She seemed to be wearing out on the lights by then. The lights are only interesting when they make people sparkle.
Christmas Lights – Central Park 2021, Greg & BannerChristmas Lights – Central Park 2021, early in the evening
