Every day we go to the park across the street. There’s no play ground there, just a big green area with hills, trees, bushes, a stream (when there’s water) and usually a bunch of people. Last night we saw seven different dogs at the park! We’ve noticed this strange sort of neighbourhood subculture that has developed at our favorite park. Dog owners, dogs and, well, us. Dogless. At least we don’t have to run after Emma with a bag of poop in our hands like the other adults at the park do. There’s rarely any other children there, just Emma and her band of happy puppies who stop to lick her, show their bellies to her, and let her pet them with loving eyes. Maybe we’ll never have to get a dog of our own! Maybe, just maybe, my shoes are safe!
We’re learning everyone’s names…Mason, Zoom, no idea what their owner’s names are. Just as I’m sure they have no idea that Mark and I actually have names. You just hear resounding “There’s Emma” calls when we arrive for our daily stroll. This one time it was just Emma and I out for a walk and Mark stayed at home to work. I hadn’t joined in the walk for a few days and when I got to the park, all these strangers were talking to Emmy as if they knew her! Super bizarre when someone knows your baby’s name and you’ve never seen them before. I try to go with them everyday now. Sometimes more than once a day…sometimes everytime we leave the house! The half hour to an hour walk around the park sure adds to the commute time some days!
