My Dog's Seeing Eye Person

Duncan the Grey Dog is blind from birth. One look at his scruffy body with pink tongue hanging out, and I was sold. ( He was also wearing an orange vest that said, "Adopt Me." I really didn't have a choice.) Vets have estimated him to be 10 years old. 

People say we must be good-hearted for bringing home an old and blind dog. But I think I have gained much more from him then he has from me. Obvious cuteness and admirable canine traits aside, Duncan the Grey has taught me valuable life lessons:

1. The pleasure of a scent should be revered.

Duncan can sit for hours outside or next to an open window, nose in the air, with the concentration and intensity of being engrossed in an epic film. He uses his nose to find us in the darkness and when he does, he nuzzles his little snout into a comfy crook in your arm and just soaks in the familiarity. There is something so primal about scent- it can soothe, excite, entice, and more. 

2. Just keep trying, you will find a way.

When we first got Duncan, I felt like crying everytime he bumped into something. I wanted to bubble wrap the entire apartment. But after he had time to settle, I realized he has a pretty good system of making his way in the world. He walks carefully, along the walls and furniture gently touching things with his nose and head to guide his way. We now  have wall border of noseprints about 7 inches up from the floor.  He is susceptible to injury in the kitchen where he likes to hang out underfoot when he hears and smells food preparation. He blends into the grey tiles, and he's quiet. Even if he's inadvertently whacked in the head, he finds another spot to sit with his nose poised and ready. He occasionally gets stuck in the forest of legs which is the dining set, or confounded by the laptop wire that crosses the room at his chest level. Though it's heart wrenching to watch, he never gets upset, frustated or starts cursing (as I would do). He just does a half turn, and tries another way, and another, and another- until he finds his way out and then proceeds to his destination unfazed. He just accepts the roadblocks and detours as part of his journey.  

2. Trust is everything- it deepens a relationship, and opens up the possibilities:

When we first got Duncan, if we tried to carry him anywhere he would cling on with all four paws for dear life, or attempt to jump out of our arms. After some time he has learned that we're not going to throw him anywhere, and he's okay when we pick him up. I think he also doesn't mind the free ride to another location.

Walking him outdoors can be a challenge because he's usually slow and distracted by all of the wonderful smells. Naturally, people assume he will move out of the way when they brush by, so he's prone to knocks on a crowded sidewalk. But he takes his cues from the leash and we manage to navigate the more quiet streets and uneven terrain. He also listens to verbal commands, like "step up" and "step down" to deal with the curbs. His trust built up to the point where, when I  took him on a leash to an open field and walked fast, he broke into a quick trot. I choke up just thinking about it, I was so happy for him. Would I run if I couldn't see- even if someone was holding my hand? 

3. Forgivness is more important than trust.

Despite the aforementioned trust indicators, I am not a hero with a leash. If I don't look out for him, he will bump into that pole (this has happened more than I care to admit). If I forget to stay "step-down" if he will trip off the step. But somehow he recovers and still follows me anywhere. I don't know that I would be so forgiving of someone who knew of my vulnerablity and still forgot to take extra care. I'm working on trying to be more trustworthy, so he can take bigger steps and enjoy more. I'm also considering following his example and forgiving other humans in my life who, despite their mistakes, have honorable intentions. 

4. The sweetest tone has the stongest power.

Duncan does not have to see my face to know I am smiling. When I call his name with the slightest trace of affection in my voice even when he's asleep,  his cock-eared head perks up and his cocktail frank tail starts to wiggle. This is not just because he's my dog and I'm his person. When strangers coo and fawn, he stops in his tracks, turns his head to their sounds and stands at attention waiting for pets. If you want to make someone feel good, simply let their name roll off your tongue, smooth and sweet like honey.

5. If you care too much about how you look, you'll miss out.  

We purchased a cozy bed for Duncan from PetSmart. He knows where it is, and he uses it a lot. I feel we are taking good care of him by giving him a spot to call his own, which is rather lush compared to his kennel at the shelter. My mom even got him a little fleece "security blanket." One afternoon, I heard crinkling near the front door for a few minutes, followed by a sigh. Twenty minutes later, there was more crinkling, then silence. I went over to find that Duncan had made a bed from articles of recycling. There he was, curled up on some cardboard, with his nose in a Contadina Tomato Paste box. He napped there occasionally for the next couple of days before the items made it to the recycling bin. I have also found him fast asleep with his lower half in a flattened laundry hamper and his head in an open, messy suitcase. It looked so uncomfotable, I couldn't understand why he would choose that spot to sleep on. It was soon after we moved, and I realize now he was trying to be close to the familiar scent of our clothes. It didn't matter how crazy he looked to us, that was where he wanted to be. I wish I could be so unaffected by my own appearance...I would be more inclined to do things that just feel good. 

Duncan the Grey Warrior has bestowed on me his best truths for finding happiness in a dark and confusing world, and for that I consider myself the lucky one.  

Why Slumdog Millionaire Makes Me Feel Good

The "Underdog Millionaire" has fought the odds to become nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and that fact is thrilling to me. I saw the movie with no expectations and was very pleasantly satisfied. It did all the things a movie should make you do: laugh, cry, think, hope.

I must note that I write this entry as the Academy Awards show is being aired. Why am I blogging about it, and not watching to find out if my favorite will win?

Truthfully, I just moved across the country and my big old TV wouldn't fit in the back seat of my car. This was msotly because of the space being occupied by my Shnauzer. Without a convertor box, that mammoth (TV, not the dog) will be obsolete.

With the aid of Netflix and Hulu, I haven't  even missed my television- apart from two nights this year: Superbowl Sunday and Oscar night. I'm not really a football fan, but I dragged myself to the gym that night and caught the last half of game while chugging away half-heartedly on the recumbent bike.

Though I mostly want to watch the Oscars for fashion purposes, I am very interested in seeing how Slumdog comes up tonight. I was born and raised in America. but I am closely connected to my Southeast Asian heritage. I go through phases of Bollywood mania- though I have to read the subtitles. I like the outfits, and the comfort of seeing people that look like me on the big screen. I know the dancing is cheesy and usually outdated, but the fantastical nature of the stories do grow on you. What I have yet to figure out is why the lead women are so striking and the men so...well, ordinary.

Slumdog Millionaire appealed to both the Bollywood and Hollywood cravings in me. It's a well-told story of the human experience and the survival of love in spite of it. The tale transcends nationality, which is why I think it has had such mass appeal.  True to it's Indian roots, the brlliant film finishes off with a classic dance number that they (thankfully) saved for the credits.

Though my feelings of admiration and jealousy for Frieda Pinto compel me to find out what she's wearing, I have no intention of dragging myself to the gym at 10pm to watch the events unfold. Even if the lovely Hugh Jackman is hosting. Why is it that I am able to choose sleep over this glamourous and exciting occasion?

In the the words of losing moviemakers everywhere, It is satisfying enough just to know that my film was nominated."