verge (vʉrj)
noun
the edge, brink, or margin (of something): also used figuratively the verge of the forest, on the verge of hysteria

verg′·ing
to tend or incline (to or toward)
to be in the process of change or transition into something else; pass gradually (into) dawn verging into daylight




Sunday, August 30, 2009

Boo: Take Two

It's starting to dawn on me that sometimes wisdom is acquired through making the same mistake over and over again until you get so tired of starting over that you finally decide to NOT make the mistake again and try something different. I've known this for a long time but I didn't have the wisdom to have this wisdom. 


But anyway, here's Libby who saved the day by demonstating her own very keen wisdom on Friday when she came along to walk Boo. Libby's about the size of a peanut and has the mental precision of a diamond cutter.  Details.  She knows details and can catalogue them in the files of her memory and then immediately retrieve them when you ask.  She also has an uncanny ability to plan ahead. Details, again.  If you have a job that needs to get done, put Lib on it.  Done.


And the bonus:  Libby reads the blog which proved to be my lucky strike on this particular day.


So there we were, cruising the 'hood with Boo and enjoying one of the most beautiful days of the summer.  It was warm, clear, sunny, breezy, friendly.  Of course the cynic in me was silently scolding it for being too little and too late but I would take it, nonetheless.  And we were chatting and planning her upcoming move when Libby looked up, stopped walking and quietly said "uh-oh".  Boo had stopped, his tail was still, and his ears were up and forward leaning (Try to do that with your own ears. It's an amazing demonstration of 'focus').  And Boo was indeed 'focused'.  Strangely familiar single-point concentration.


Libby said it again but this time it was "Mom, uh-oh. Mom, look! Mom!" I looked at Boo.  I looked at Libby.  I looked back to Boo. That's when I saw it: barrelling down the street coming staright at us at full throttle and with a faint hint of a grin reminiscent of Jack Nicholson in the Shining ("Hhhhheeerrrrre's Johnny!")  was--yes--you guessed--that UPS truck again!  And by the time I understood what Libby and Boo were anticipating, Boo was already in the process of becoming one with the truck in his inimitable style. 

Thank goodness for Libby!  And thank goodness she reads the blog and pays attention!  And even more thank goodness she knew about Boo and the UPS truck! And especially thank goodness Libby was Right Here Right Now so that I was able to compose myself for the thunder of their union just in time!  And as the truck swooshed by and Boo tried to lunge, Dr. UPS leaned forward to watch the effect, and when he saw that we were all hunkered down, he rounded the corner, stopped the truck and looked back to see if we were flung every which way. We were not.  I was (almost) solidly on both feet.  My arm was still (almost)attached to my shoulder.  Boo was still Boo.  My clothes were askew and my hair was pretty torn up but we were standing. Libby laughed hard.


But if Libby hadn't been there?  Well, that thought is what led to my opening paragraph.  I'm still deaf to the reality of the UPS truck.  Like the day's weather, I was also too little and too late to have any awareness of the UPS truck. Still more practice needed.  Maybe even more suffering.

And, if Libby hadn't been there...

But Libby has always been here.  All the way here.  And I don't just mean in the physical sense.  But in the intuitive sense.  They're hidden behind her sunglasses, but she has enormous brown eyes.  When she was born, they seemed almost too big for her tiny face.  They're deep, huge, beautiful.  And they've seen many things.  She has taken those many things and woven them together with an intention and a devotion that takes my breath away.  Her focus, her determination, her laughter, and her Right Here Right Now-ness will take her far as she sets out on her new journey.  How excited I am for her--and how I will miss her! And though she won't be right here exactly, I know she will always be exactly right here...

1 comment:

  1. I'm glad you write your blog so I have something interesting and humorous to read. It always brightens up my day :)
    And, I'm really glad I read your post about the first UPS/Boo incident, so I could help prepare you for his take-off! That was so funny, and going back to read the first post about Boo, you really know how to tell it like it is! He really tries to be one with the UPS truck, and only the UPS truck.

    I'll miss everyone very much, but I'm so excited that you will be able to come visit me :)

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