The Dogwalkers' Dance

 We've been walking our dogs in the nearby field for years. Until about three years ago, it was a vast, empty piece of land filled with foxes, rabbits, the occasional snake, stink bugs, crickets, and ground-nesting birds. All of that wildlife is still in it, but the field has shrunk considerably as developers continue constructing neighborhood after new neighborhood. 

I'm not complaining about the new people moving in--we were new once, too--and some of those people who have moved in have become good friends. What I am saying is that the square footage available for walking dogs has been reduced greatly. This means that those of use who use the field to walk their dogs participate in what I like to call The Dogwalkers' Dance.

If you have a dog who doesn't necessarily play well with others (even if he is a sweetie to us, his family), you know what I'm talking about. You scan the field for other dog walkers and then you decide if now is a good time to take the walk at all or if you can get away with walking the dog by keeping him on his leash or just going nice and slow to let others stay well ahead of you. 

I was doing the Dogwalkers' Dance yesterday, and keeping clear of my neighbor and his very friendly goldendoodle puppy (so adorable!) forced me to stand still and listen to the wildlife in the field until Doug and his dog disappeared over the other edge of the hill. The crickets were particularly loud, and there were what sounded like dozens of meadowlarks and little water birds singing and piping their songs. If I had decent audio recording equipment, I would have recorded the sounds to share with you because it was spectacular. 

The wild grass is really high right now because of spring rains, but as the heat settles in over the next few weeks, the green grass will dry out and die off and leave behind the scrubby sagebrush and shorter, hardier grass clumps and ground-level wildflowers. Then, through the purple and sage-green vegetation, you'll be able to spot the holes and burrows of foxes, snakes, hares, field mice, gophers, moles, and voles. 

In other news, I flubbed up at work. I miscounted how many diploma covers we needed for seminary graduation when I ordered them back in February. I only realized my mistake today as I was sorting diploma covers for each stake. I was at least ten short, and wondering if I could possibly order more in time for this Sunday's ceremonies had me stressed, which distracted me as students came in to have a chat or wanted me to sign their yearbooks. I came back to work later in the evening when no one was around so I could find a solution without suffering distractions. Fortunately, the nice customer service lady at the diploma covers store was able to expedite a shipment to me. 

Graduation season is a stressful time. There is a lot to do, and my workload and anxiety have increased just at the time when the students get more squirrelly and ready for the school year to be over. I love talking to the kids, but now I have so many who feel very comfortable plopping themselves into my office chairs (or on the floor, or even stretched out on my very long desktop) and talking to me that getting work done is more difficult. I enjoy their company for the most part. My work can usually wait a little, and there are class periods when I have no students in my office so I can get things done. What I do really enjoy is listening to these kids tell me what's on their minds or exulting in a triumph or just being silly. 

I talk to my sons the way I talk to the students at the seminary. I have a very good relationship with Joseph and Gary, and I often miss them when the students do something or say something that reminds me of my boys, so I'm always glad to see Joseph and Gary when I get home from work.

~A few days later...

Today was seminary graduation for all the seminary students in the valley. I'm hoping the ones for all the stakes I'm in charge of went well. I'll find out tomorrow...