The Dog Days of Summer

Recently Bill and I enjoyed a date night, which included dinner and a walk. This seems so simple and trite, but as it turned out, not so.

We began our evening with dinner at Jakes, a local burger establishment. Being a cool evening, we opted to sit on the patio. This patio also allows four pawed patrons to join their two-footed friends. Overhearing the ladies at the table next to us, I assumed they were speaking with a young girl named Callie. I thought, “How cute, another Callie.” Our youngest daughter is Callie and rarely do we hear of another one. As we continued our dinner, we watched a couple of frolicking dogs run across the golf course fairway. Suddenly there was shrill barking and Callie all but knocked me out of my seat trying to join the fun. It was then that I realized, no, this barking furry friend was not another girl sharing my daughter’s name. She was a dog! Alas, still no other Callie.

We finished dinner and decided to take an evening stroll to burn off those burgers. While it was still overcast, the weather didn’t seem ominous. We walked our usual route. When we came upon an intersection, we saw two dogs dutifully waiting for the light to change. When the light changed they crossed. Once they crossed they decided to join us. Because they had on tags, I thought it would be prudent to contact the owner and report the dogs (Winston and Grayson) on the loose. The grateful owners came to rescue their escapees at once. But before they arrived the derelict pups took off in a different direction. Sadly, we had to bear the unwelcome news that they had given us the slip.

The dog lover in me was going to worry about these dogs all the way home, but I did not get the chance. The weather took a change for the worse. We were about a half a mile from home when thunder, lightning and rain took over the sky. As the thunder rolled, and the lightning struck we walkers became runners. The rain didn’t bother us one bit, but the celestial electricity did! However, we had rescuers. A couple stopped and insisted that we get in their car. Soaking wet, we refused, yet they insisted. As we closed the door, the woman, (who had been on the phone) said to her husband, “Our granddaughter is afraid we may have picked up criminals. Are we sure they don’t have a gun?” Really?

These lovely neighbors that we had never met promptly and safely dropped us off at home. I later learned that Winston and Grayson had been collected. They too, were home, sweet home. It is said that these are “The Dog Days of Summer.” I believe it.

What a date night!