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It’s a dog’s lake-life
From the Editor
It’s a dog’s lake-life
As editor of Lakestyle, I get to see hundreds of lake photos submitted to me for possible inclusion in the magazine. Many of these photographs convey stories of how lake homes and lake life are woven into the character and the souls of lake people. This past month, the picture above told such a story. It also reminded me of one of mine.
A while back I read the very popular book entitled, “Marley & Me.” I imagine it is a fun read for nearly anyone, and it was especially so for me.
Author John Grogan tells the tale of how the dog Marley became a member of the family despite his questionable goodness, how much his family loved him and the pure joy he brought to them. Marley proves to be full of endless energy, amazing strength and speed, and oblivious to discipline. Those were the very same qualities most noticeable in my 98-pound yellow Labrador retriever, Alie. I am convinced that Alie and Marley were separated at birth.
I can recall coming home on many occasions to find various surprises, usually they involved clean-up and repairs. One day I found not only the refrigerator open, but a jar of pickles that had been opened and eaten, and Alie with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. I learned quickly to never, ever, leave open access to the trash as Alie seemed to particularly relish distributing it throughout our home. Expensive dog beds became instant chew toys with a larger mess to clean up. She came home only moments after leaving with a cooked hamburger hot off the neighbor’s grill in her mouth, not to mention pride on her face. Like Marley, Alie’s father had been expelled from obedience school and I realize now that should have been a clue to me that I shouldn’t accept this puppy. Before she was spayed she came home with a look on her face that looked a lot like satisfaction to me. Not long afterward she delivered 14 puppies of assorted breeding. I didn’t want to know the details; I just went about finding good homes for them all.
But Alie loved my husband and I, and she would go to great lengths to make us laugh and smile. She was a constant reminder that life is what you make it and that every moment offers something of value. I guess if you can find happiness pretty much anywhere. The happiest I saw Alie was when she was free to jump in the lake. She had spent most of her life in our home that wasn’t on a lake and the move to the water was a constant thrill for her. Sometimes we would wonder if she’d rather drown than to come back onto shore. She reminded us that the water was refreshing, invigorating, renewing, soothing, and fun. She really loved her time on the lake for the few years that she lived there.
We now have two dogs. One is a 100-pound chocolate Labrador retriever with a personality of pure kindness and obedience while always aiming to please, named Muddy. He is the antithesis of Alie in many ways. The other is a 10-pound Yorkiepoo named Lily. Watching the two dogs together is a joy. They are hilarious and very playful. And, of course, one of their favorite things is the lake. Swimming is always their favorite activity but they joyfully accept boat rides, sit near the dock to watch birds, and, in winter, seem to adopt the entire lake as their backyard, barking if anyone dares play on the ice of “their” extended backyard.
I’m not alone in my dog on the lake escapades. I’ve seen countless dogs out for a boat ride, out for a swim, out for a stroll along the edge, and playing fetch with a floating tennis ball. We love our dogs, we love our lakes, and the two seem to think highly of one another as well. As spring allows the waters to open back up I will enjoy again the bounding of the dogs as they uproariously make their way down for their first dip in the lake. If you don’t have a dog, consider borrowing a friend or neighbor’s for this season opener.
I love these words by John Thorson, “Water links us to our neighbor in a way more profound and complex than any other.” I also believe it links us to our dogs, and in a much more simple, but beautiful way.
If you have a photograph of you, or your dog’s lake-life that captures the essence of your lakestyle, please consider emailing a copy to me for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of Lakestyle. I know that I’d like to see a picture of you, my neighbor, linked by our love of the lake.
