August 18, 2011

White Dog and the rest of the White Dog Army are grateful this Thankful Thursday for our blogging community and other friends that understand that the WDA are not just pets but are rather, important members of our family and this community. They appreciate being recognized as unique personalities with their own attitudes and perspectives. They are honored to share their lives with so many whose families consist of hair and fur, hands and paws, words and woofs (or purrs). It is not, as White Dog, our resident philosopher, likes to say, the shape of the package but rather, the heart and soul inside.



Encounters with such kindred leave us feeling a part of the Whole and accepted for what comes naturally to us...it is impossible to feel silly about crying into your best friend's fur over the fact that your gentle rescue pup has played with a stuffie for the first time ever when the listeners clap with joy and share their similar experiences. It is incredibly freeing to be part of a world where those you respect never would tease you by saying, "it is only a dog!" And when it is time for sadness, the comfort offered is real and the positive energy genuine.



This all comes to mind this late Thankful Thursday night as we have just ended a long catch-up telephone conversation with Heart Family that are tied to us through White Dog and Quinn (and Nuka and Puff and YoYoMa who they have not yet met). Their Prinnie and Digby and Atka stories bring to mind times we have spent together and we have a vivid picture of Paddy, their new boy, just waiting to be confirmed by an actual sniff and hug.



Truly half the conversation involved their trauma of leaving the pups behind while our friends head back East for a family obligation. The status of Quinn and YoYo's developing relationship took much time as well. Conversation flowed between topics human and dog and there was no real differentiation in tone or importance. That is the way it works best in the blog world as well. It is impossible to just talk dogs (or kitties)without the context of their families and what affects them both. And in sharing, we become something more than just story tellers, we become bonded, joined together, caring about each family's Big Picture...we become an amazing amalgam, fortified and celebrated as we reach out and connect hand to paw across the globe.



For friends and Heart Family and Blogging Family who passionately understand (and who are nodding in agreement now) we are most Thankful.