As many people know, we breed and show dogs….Golden Retrievers to be exact, yet one of our dogs is not a Golden at all, my wife’s dog Spencer. Spencer is a mutt, and a pretty good dog normally, but he is the one of the five who constantly tests my patience. Many nights when the dogs go out for the last time of the day Spencer takes off, just like he did tonight, making my peaceful back porch not a place of peaceful tranquility, but a place of anxiety and even anger. The Goldens all listen and are well trained, but despite our best efforts Spencer never really listens, nor does he seem to care to. And he sets me back quite a bit when he does this too.

Sadly these days, lots of things test my patience, and though I pray to have more, often I find my patience-reserve turns up empty. I suppose these things build character, but I just can’t seem to “go to the well” as they say like I used to. My mind is clearly different now, and its way of dealing with things is very evident to me in life.

But the good news is that Spencer just returned, and returned without having me have to drive around the neighborhood looking for him, which is the norm. My wife always worries about him and used to say that if anything ever happened to him that there would not be enough Prozac in the world that could help her through (she does not take Prozac, but her drug references always have to promote her company……you can tell she is a Lilly microbiologist…makers of Prozac, can’t you?) And though I do not take it either, I can say if he runs away anymore, there is probably not enough for me either. He is killing me. But at least he is back, and for that I am thankful. Amanda however, is making him hang with me here on the back porch until I am done typing, and somehow it just doesn’t seem as wonderful. It seems I have done something wrong!!!! Spencer is content and sleeping, while I am typing and seething. I know that the Lord loves a forgiving heart, but I am certain his dog doesn’t run away every other day, and if it did, He’d probably turn it into stone. Sadly, I have no such abilities at my disposal.

But no worries! Even though his little jaunt has made this day about an hour longer that I thought it would be, the truth is that the day is still done, and I will be able to go get some sleep. My head now hurts, and my blood pressure is still a bit high I am sure, but we are all safe and at home….even the escapee. My hope and prayer is to write again tomorrow, well rested, happy, healthy, and canine-contained!

Nite my friends, and God bless.

Tom+