Dutch Shepherd Forum

For some reason, I'm compelled to post this....

I live in a small town, population 1500, maybe. All day it's been snowing those big, fluffy flakes so it's very quiet and enchanting.

Passing through the living room I noticed someone in the snowy road, in the middle of it, in front of my house...doing Tai Chi. I am mesmerized by the art's movement and have tried to learn, so I watched spellbound as this man, slight of frame, covered in snow, and clearly inspired to meditate in the beauty of nature, move with amazing grace.

Thor is on quiet alert because I'm looking out the window: what's goin' on? whattya doin'? what's out there? should I do something? just say the word.

I held out the inside of a forearm, which is an invitation for him to get up on my arm and look. (If I offer the outside of a forearm, it means he's to get on it and hide his head in shame. Anyway....)

He watches the man with me. He's alert but quiet. Good boy. Because the movements are so slow, the man's back remains toward us. I'm thinking how odd it is to see this but how wonderful it is to have caught it. (And wish I had the ability to be as free--and graceful--as this man....)

I tell Thor off. I walk in the kitchen, still watching this man. Thor stands on his haunches to watch. He's quiet. Good boy.

All was peaceful.

Until the "last" move the man made had him facing the house with a leg slowly stretching toward the house combined with forward-rolling arm movements--and BAM--the Currier and Ives moment was shot to hell.

Thor only got a couple of those deep, authoritative belts out before I told him it was alright, but in a blink (honestly, a blink) that inspired, gentle, little man vanished. Like he hadn't even been there. Gone so quickly, gone so completely out of sight, that if it hadn't have been for Thor, I'd have thought I imagined someone doing Tai Chi in the road in the falling snow in front of my house.

My god of thunder sent a lightning bolt through his sea of tranquility. Maybe he'll be moved again to meditate somewhere near my house, but probably not. (I was thinking of being nervy enough to go out and ask, if I saw him stop and just walk, if he minded giving advice, some direction, or taking on a student, but, well, a day late and a dollar short leaves me struggling with my own clumsy self.)

Your writing is beautiful...I was mesmerized right along with you visualizing the Tai Chi man.

And then I about spit out my drink when the Currier and Ives moment was blown to itty bitty bits!!

hahahaha I hear ya. Like when I saw Santa Clause standing outside Dunkin Donuts. All of the kids were waiving, Thalie was salivating waiting for the 'attack' Comand.

omg!!!!!!!!!!!! i really did LOL at the santa reaction. TD was the exact same way - though he was willing to consider it might be a joke.

This little town has a fire truck sllllllooooooowly inch down the road with a man dressed as Santa, waving, while they sound the siren in short and constant bursts.

The first time, Thor'd only been here six months (not a picnic), and the husband, getting in the spirit of things, in a kiddy, sing-songy voice pranced around: "Here comes Santa--Here comes Santa!"

It was cute, considering the husband is a long-haired, tattooed, leather-clad, musician and biker. Not cute otherwise.

I really do think DS people look at the world in a whole different way.

I love it!