oh yes you did

darby’s dirt

Originally uploaded by Dr. Suz.

bad dog.

the ecology of action

Something happened today that got me thinking about actions, choices and responsibility. I try to teach, and model, good judgement to Things One and Two. I want them to make their own decisions, but it’s my job to help them understand what good judgement looks like. So far, in their relatively short lives, their actions and decisions haven’t had big (or very big) consequences. Yet. So they haven’t had the experience of a bad decision having unforseen impact on other people. But that’s coming. I hope they’ll do better than what I saw today.

So, Darby and I made our usual trek to the beach. Most mornings this time of year, it’s just the regulars. Nice folks, nice dogs. But today there was a unfamiliar dog who didn’t know how to play nice. His owner walked far down the beach, leaving the dog on his own, with his bad dog manners. In short order, he attacked another dog. One man was bitten trying to pull Bad Dog off of Good Dog. He had to lay on bad dog to keep him under control while his bad owner s-l-o-w-l-y strolled up the beach. Bad “owner” claims the dog isn’t is, he just found it on the street and brought it down (with a leash) to play on the beach. Piece of information: the dog is a male pitbull.

The consequences of his choice are many:

1. There’s an injured dog.

2. There’s an injured man, who may have to undergo rabies shots.

3. The pitbull will likely be euthanized.

4. The dog beach is under siege and we’re likely to lose it within a year. This did not help.

5. Pitbulls have a very bad reputation. Good work furthering that rap.

Word to bad owner: if you’re lying to avoid responsibility and you do own the dog, and it has been vaccinated, speak up! If you don’t, untold bad juju will follow you all the days of your life.

That choice to bring the dog to the beach in the first place played out today. And it reminded me how our actions are really interactions, often with unforseeable impact. So today we’ll talk with Things One and Two about making good choices. And standing up for the consequences, whatever they may be.

still feeling it

thankful, that is. Great family, great friends. Health scares in various quarters survived and conquered. Parenting challenges weathered. Perspective intact. Life is good.

We have very nice buns, Chez Dr. Suz

And we know how to wear our napkins.

 

 

Technoweenies, satiated, now passing around their toys.

Duck talk

 

Love ‘em, every one.

Perfect days have perfect endings.