Musings

by Richard Biby, Contributing Editor

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"

or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand

the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved

for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about

with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company

was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my

saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in

those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me

comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably

understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just

a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of

friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out

the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because

of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look

longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just

a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,

the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just

a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away

from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog"

but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a

man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile,

because they "just don't understand."