It's a Dog's Life

Last night I went to a formal dinner in the grand ballroom at the WestinHotel. The only person I knew was my friend Steve who had invited me as his guest. However, DaVida, my guide dog, seemed to have had many friends at the event. Women came across the ballroom to greet her, dropping on their knees in their evening gowns to rub her ears. She responded with doggie kisses and to some of her favorite friends by rolling onto her back so she could get a belly rub. Then a few more doggie licks and they parted. All evening people smiled at my dog, cooed at her, acknowledged her. I guess I was probably having one of my invisible days. The man I sat next to rubbed her head all during dinner.Me? No cranial massage for me. Just, "Pass the salt, please." As we were leaving one of the waiters ran across the ballroom to say, "I'm not handling food anymore, can I pet your dog?" Then there were more nose rubbing, ear massage, and kisses. She made a lot of new friends and you can be sure that if we ever meet any of those people anywhere in Seattle again, there will be a great reunion. I, on the other hand, was introduced to a number of people, extended my hand and said," How do you do?" as if I was a Eliza Doolittle. In return they were no kisses for me, no belly rubs, no ear massages. There is a lesson here. A dog'slife... love and kisses, massages, new friends made everyday. The next time I meet someone I like, perhaps I will roll over on my back and ask for a belly rub. The world surely would be a different place if we all did that.