The Daily Q: Panic Attack

Because there are not enough reasons these days to have regular panic attacks, Sparkle decided to offer yet another. It went like this…

After tracking with Sadie, Suzanne and I took dogs for a romp — I had Sparkle and she had Sadie and Sundance.

Sundance watching Sparkle

We were walking along with the older dogs off leash and chatting about this and that while the dogs enjoyed the chance to have some fun…

Sparkle

Suddenly we heard a splash.

Sparkle had gone straight down a steep slope and was in the water — a fast-moving, spring run-off river tributary.

She could not get out because the bank was so steep and the water was so fast. At one point she was on the opposite bank, shaking off and trying to decide what to do next.

It was bad.

Much swearing and yelling and panic ensued (by me — Suzanne stayed calm).

Sparkle jumped back in the river and swam across, found a foothold and dragged her wet self out of the water and up the slope to safety.

The Gold Medal goes to…

That was my Sunday morning — how was yours?

The Daily Q: The Invitation of Difference

It is easy to assume sameness.

To assume anyone who looks/believes/thinks/votes that way can be neatly categorized.

Doing that means we miss the amazingly unique and wonderful complexities of individuals.

It also means we lose the opportunity for connection because we cannot connect or have relationships with categories — only with individuals.

It is when we stop thinking they all think alike, act alike, and/or look alike that we know the wonder of relationship.

And it is wonderful indeed.

The Daily Q: Georgia is No Peach

In a lovely display of the ripple effect of public policy, the Peach Blossom Cluster dog show is proceeding as planned in Perry, Georgia in mid-June.

A cluster indeed.

Thank you, Deb!

Given that this show will take place in a state where the governor is ignoring those pesky science-types and apparently trying to go viral in the worst possible way, I guess I should not be surprised.

But I am.

The online discussions have been both interesting and appalling. The one side can be summed up as, “WTF?!” and the other as “my choice” and “stay home if it bothers you.”

Wait, what?!

Individual freedom is ALWAYS limited when one lives in community.

You may not drive as fast as you think is safe, you may not shoot someone you do not like, you may not beat your child or your partner or your dog, and you may not share your second-hand smoke, for fork’s sake.

Ponder that: SECOND-HAND SMOKE is restricted — but temporary restrictions about a new killer virus infringe on your rights?!

HUH?

That indoor show in Georgia — with air conditioning, known to easily share the viral love — will not allow you to exercise your individual right to blow smoke, but all you asymptomatic carriers and those with mild symptoms you think are a cold may cough away.

You have rights, after all!

Have you seen this?

Source: http://www.healthdata.org/covid/updates

It tells us with the right measures in place (they aren’t), the soonest Georgia should enter a more relaxed phase — which will STILL include limiting gathering sizes — is mid-June.

MID-JUNE. For a first phase of re-opening. I am struggling to understand how any intelligent and reasonable person could imagine a first phase should include a flipping dog show cluster.

Meanwhile in Canada — a large outdoor show in Alberta has been cancelled; it was to be held in AUGUST.

So outdoors in August is not a good plan but indoors in June is?!

No, friends, it is not.

Georgia may well be a peach, but these days it is a really rotten one.

Stay home. For all kinds of reasons.

Because we should not support or encourage stupidly dangerous decisions.

Because taking this virus seriously is a way to honor those who have lost their lives to it.

Because you matter.