Pat Wild

New to the MLS program, Pat Wild composed this “One Pager” about her dog, Willie. An engineer by profession, Pat said she wanted to try her hand at something creative. Enjoy how Pat captures the very special way that a Labrador approaches a walk with his human.

A Walk Through the Nature Exhibits

What a beautiful day for a walk through the nature exhibits. I have been visiting these exhibits since I was a wee one and have never grown tired of them. Though age is chasing me, I’m still in the lead and able to enjoy the exhibits. Admittedly I walk through them more leisurely I shall say; but the new slower pace gives me more time to “smell the roses”.

Two friends, Walter and Lucy, are also long-time visitors. I checked the guest register; not surprisingly, Walter had visited just this morning. Too bad we had not been able to come together. Walter, a bit younger than I, sometimes can’t throttle his desire to get to the next exhibit and he hurries off and leaves me behind. No bother: he always comes back for me. Invariably, as others are chatting away like talking newspapers, I call Walter’s attention to a few details he overlooks in his haste to move to the next exhibit.

Oh my-gosh! Lucy had been here just two days earlier. I lingered over her signature as its freshness opened the door marked “Lucy” in my heart. How long had it been? I had no idea about time these days. I thought she had moved away or perhaps died. Walter assured me she had moved away. He was right! Here was undeniable evidence that she was alive and in the area.

As I continued my exploration through the nature exhibits, I found she had visited many of the ones she used to visit. Each guest register entry had been carefully left for others to find. I laughed as I remembered how precisely she entered her presence into the register and how hit or miss mine had alway been. I began to follow her trail with anticipation that I might actually catch her. Suddenly, and without warning I was jerked back to reality. “Willie, it’s time to go home.”