Definitely Texting

Ocean town weather is somewhat predictable. It’s almost always foggy in the morning, and it almost always burns off around 11 AM. It didn’t do that yesterday, and it was really comforting. I got to loaf around in the cold air and fog. I ventured out yesterday, alone. It was challenging, but I did okay. I noticed things that I’d never noticed before the attack, I was able to go places I’ve never been able to go before too. Maybe I am trying to experience this ocean town in a new way. There are many memories of Hardy and me here, like sitting at the news café sipping a frothy, designer latte in an environmentally friendly cup.

I’ve discovered a new place to get a latte. They have all the things the news café had only dogs are not allowed. In ocean town that means dogs will wait patiently outside, either tethered to a post or secured in a vehicle. I saw the cutest dog sitting outside waiting for its master. The dog was perched in the driver’s seat, as if the owner would be riding shotgun.

Ocean town locals are NOT dog snobs. They don’t bad vibe people who leave their dog in the car. I would venture to guess that they even stop and communicate in some way with the waiting animal, much like I do. When I see a dog waiting for its dogmom or dogdad, I speak to it in a friendly soothing voice as I pass by. I believe I’m helping the dog to hang in there.

There are dogs everywhere in this ocean town. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I love it so much. Yesterday I went for a walk downtown - another place where dogs are not allowed. I felt particularly comforted as I walked, without Hardy in tow, the memory of him floating around like a cloud in my consciousness. It actually felt a little like, for once, I was able to bring him there. I must have been walking at a snail’s pace because I heard someone say as she passed me on the sidewalk, “… definitely texting, definitely texting.” Then she said to me, "You were walking so slowly, I thought you were texting."

But I wasn’t texting. I was remembering the little guy, and sort of feeling his presence around me. He was with me, if only in my mind, and I was savoring every moment.