An Important Day in my Life
One of the most important days in my life was on a sunny day in August of 1998. I was riding my bike along the lake front in Chicago, as I did most days in the summer. I was tired and when I stopped to break for a bit, I noticed a skinny, mangy haired dog running loose and aimlessly. She was beaming with light and that dog had the biggest smile I had ever seen. Besides the birds and squirrels she was chasing, she was completely oblivious to anything else around her, including me. She wasn’t catching anything but would simply go on to her next prey. I watched this dog for a while and I was in total amazement. She was determined but failure after failure, she just happily went on to her next chase. I have always loved dogs and have had many in my life but there was something about that one, she radiated joy. I wondered how any kind of being could be happy and playful in such a dire-state of need.
This dog was clearly homeless and after two hours of luring her near me, we made acquaintance. I brought her to my home and named her Frank. I lived in an apartment were no pets were allowed and was trying to keep her on the down-low. I quickly realized that this joyous being also had a side of mischief and terror of equal magnitude. She was not to be kept on the down-low!
Frank was a mess, as far as living in a home and being socially appropriate. According to the vet, she was two years old. We worked the main issues out though she has kept her free spirit and stubbornness.
Looking back, she reflected parts of me at the time, aimless, alone, worn, torn, and transient. What she reflected on the outside physically is how I felt on the inside. Perhaps my allure to her was that she pulled it off so carefree and joyfully, as I did not. This taught me appearance is an illusion and subjective to the perceiver.
Throughout the years, Frank has been my best friend. She has taught me how to love, how to be loyal, patient,...