Choosing Gratitude

Mary-Ann Sontag August 19, 2021

This is Wildflower Kjempe and his human, Mariya…

You know what I so appreciate about Mariya? Her absolute delight in Kjempe.

He is so clearly the apple of her eye — and it makes me so happy for both of them.

It is no less than every puppy deserves, of course, but Mariya does it so very well. Thank you, Mariya!!

Sage (Bright Star) and Lucas (Sparklers) have two doting humans to love them — lucky boys!

Sparkler Ruthie has Lori and these two are inseparable. Love them both!

Lucky Lupine from the Wildflowers has a whole family of humans and dogs to hang out with her…

It has Harper B for Been a While since we checked in on this girl…

Harper is doing just fine. She is happy and closing in on that magical tenth birthday (knock on wood, fingers crossed, put on Lucky Socks). Harper is endlessly tolerant of the puppies, has as much energy as ever, and is Dear Husband’s Bestie.

We are so blessed to share our lives with these dogs — and each other.

Tribe

Mary-Ann Sontag August 16, 2021

The annual August test of the Big Sky Tracking Dog Club of Montana happened yesterday on the campus of the University of Montana.

I was a tracklayer and so I spent both Saturday and Sunday mornings with my tracking tribe. Although those of us who were there have differences, we come together over a shared love of dogs and tracking to form a community.

It is so wonderful to be reminded that we fit in these human niches, whatever they are. Humans, no matter how introverted, are social by nature — it is how we survive. The pandemic has interrupted so many of our connection points, and while certainly there is value in pruning away some of those pre-pandemic demands, we still need connection.

I am trying to find balance between connections and safety given the Covid surge, and it is tough. Just trying to navigate this takes Little Soldiers, doesn’t it?

I wonder if one reason that masks have become a bit of a tribal identity symbol (understatement alert) is simply because the pandemic has made us so desperate for connection.

Too bad we cannot all be connected by a shared sense of love and responsibility to — and for — each other.

Animals like their tribes as well. I imagine it is not easy to live in a world where the language, culture, customs, expectations are all so different than our hard wiring. When you are the only one like you — how hard would that be?