Dear readers, I apologize for the excessive length of my comment, but you may find it worth the read as you delve inside my written words. I hope you enjoy. ;-)
Humor is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to appreciate life. Without it, our world would be filled with the negative aspects of emotion. Locating the problems or disappointments in our lives and treating them with humor is the ultimate way to ensure this never happens. There are several incidents in my past that are good examples of treating life with humor, but only one that stands proudly above the rest.
Humor is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to appreciate life. Without it, our world would be filled with the negative aspects of emotion. Locating the problems or disappointments in our lives and treating them with humor is the ultimate way to ensure this never happens. There are several incidents in my past that are good examples of treating life with humor, but only one that stands proudly above the rest.
The first eight years of my schooling took place at Manes Elementary, and those years were definitely eventful. I specifically remember a time that still gives me a laugh when I look back on it today. Due to my above average proficiency in school-work I was placed in the enrichment/gifted program at Manes. This program entitled you to attend after-school meetings where you would participate in school-related activities. Sounds pretty boring, right?
When I attended, I thought they were pretty boring too. I clearly remember an especially dull day, where all I could think about was getting home and indulging upon a good book. Even at the young age of 13, I was already an avid reader. I remember glancing at the clock periodically, eager for the minute hand to speed up and to hear the gravel crunching as my mom pulled up to the school. Any minute now... Any minute...
Eventually, our meeting was called to end, and thankfully because I was getting quite tired of repetitious mad-libs. I could hear the squeal of tires as parents began arriving to pick up their children. I hastily gathered my backpack and other necessities and uttered a few hurried good-byes to the teacher. I filed behind the other students as we exited the school and headed toward our parent's vehicles. Another girl from class, Cholena and her sister Brooke, chatted mildly with me as we traversed in the same direction.
I soon spotted my mother's car, and I walked up with Cholena and Brooke still following. To my surprise, Mom had brought our dog, Rusty with her. Rusty was a Jack-Russel terrier whose ego compensated for his diminutive size. In other words, he was positively psycho. I knew immediately, as he perked his head up toward the window, that Cholena and her sister had fallen for his deceptively cute looks. Trouble was the only outcome, but at the time I had no idea just how crazy things would get.
As we approached the car, mom rolled down the window and warned the girls to stay back. Rusty was in one of his 'moods.' Heedless of her requests, Brooke and Cholena strolled up to the passenger window and began pecking on the glass. They cooed over Rusty's seemingly adorable demeanor. I knew they were in for a shock, so I stood back and smothered a laugh. Sure enough, A shrill, high-pitched bark pierced the air, only slightly muffled from inside the car. Rusty had both paws pressed up against the inside of the window, barking and growling madly at the figures above him. Immediately Brooke and Cholena pulled their hands away from the snapping jaws of the crazed beast and stepped away from the car. I could tell they were frightened, and I found it hilarious! The wall of glass in front of them insured Rusty's imprisonment and their safety. Or did it?
Something then happened that even surprised me, although it made for a much funnier predicament. All of a sudden Rusty stopped his madness, and his incessant barking ceased. I noticed his sides were heaving from his breathlessness. He stared directly at the girls, his face devoid of any remnants of anger, and smiled. If any dog had the mental capacity to know what a smile is, it would be my dear, psychotic canine. The girls stared at him curiously; the obviously mischievous and triumphant grin was nothing like they had ever seen before. My mom was still, also watching him. I had witnessed some very strange aspects of Rusty's, but this was new. I couldn't completely suppress my pride.
Then, shockingly enough, Rusty lifted his paw and maneuvered it above the window controls on the arm of the door. His grin widened as the pads of his paw made contact with the button and his muscles forced it down. Their was an audible whine as the glass began to lower.
Both girls squealed in terror and rushed back toward where I was standing. Their timing was just right; the window was almost completely open. I could see my mom inside, shocked by the events that were unfolding. As the final glimpse of glass vanished into the door, Rusty leaped, his continuous grin causing his jowls to quiver. His triumph was obvious. I remember the moment in slow-motion. Rusty's leg muscles tightened as he leaped, his mouth now gaping, and his eyes fixed upon the prey. I also remember my mom, faster than I believed she could move, lurching across the center console of the car and reaching for his left ankle. Could she reach him in time? Were the girls about to face the insanity and mad intentions of my good-looking pup?
Mom wasn't late. Her hand grasped Rusty's ankle in mid-leap. His small body careened in the air for a fraction of a second before gravity pulled him down. His body slammed against the exterior of the car door, and he hung there, dangling comically. The high-pitched barking commenced as I rushed forward and hauled him the rest of the way into the car. Poor dog, I thought, his moment of glory had been short-lived. As mom rolled the window up (she made sure to engage the child-lock), Brooke and Cholena recovered from their terror and let out shaky laughs. I chuckled along with them, finding the whole situation hilarious. This was a time I would forever cherish, for intense situations are best treated with humor and a good laugh. :-)
When I attended, I thought they were pretty boring too. I clearly remember an especially dull day, where all I could think about was getting home and indulging upon a good book. Even at the young age of 13, I was already an avid reader. I remember glancing at the clock periodically, eager for the minute hand to speed up and to hear the gravel crunching as my mom pulled up to the school. Any minute now... Any minute...
Eventually, our meeting was called to end, and thankfully because I was getting quite tired of repetitious mad-libs. I could hear the squeal of tires as parents began arriving to pick up their children. I hastily gathered my backpack and other necessities and uttered a few hurried good-byes to the teacher. I filed behind the other students as we exited the school and headed toward our parent's vehicles. Another girl from class, Cholena and her sister Brooke, chatted mildly with me as we traversed in the same direction.
I soon spotted my mother's car, and I walked up with Cholena and Brooke still following. To my surprise, Mom had brought our dog, Rusty with her. Rusty was a Jack-Russel terrier whose ego compensated for his diminutive size. In other words, he was positively psycho. I knew immediately, as he perked his head up toward the window, that Cholena and her sister had fallen for his deceptively cute looks. Trouble was the only outcome, but at the time I had no idea just how crazy things would get.
As we approached the car, mom rolled down the window and warned the girls to stay back. Rusty was in one of his 'moods.' Heedless of her requests, Brooke and Cholena strolled up to the passenger window and began pecking on the glass. They cooed over Rusty's seemingly adorable demeanor. I knew they were in for a shock, so I stood back and smothered a laugh. Sure enough, A shrill, high-pitched bark pierced the air, only slightly muffled from inside the car. Rusty had both paws pressed up against the inside of the window, barking and growling madly at the figures above him. Immediately Brooke and Cholena pulled their hands away from the snapping jaws of the crazed beast and stepped away from the car. I could tell they were frightened, and I found it hilarious! The wall of glass in front of them insured Rusty's imprisonment and their safety. Or did it?
Something then happened that even surprised me, although it made for a much funnier predicament. All of a sudden Rusty stopped his madness, and his incessant barking ceased. I noticed his sides were heaving from his breathlessness. He stared directly at the girls, his face devoid of any remnants of anger, and smiled. If any dog had the mental capacity to know what a smile is, it would be my dear, psychotic canine. The girls stared at him curiously; the obviously mischievous and triumphant grin was nothing like they had ever seen before. My mom was still, also watching him. I had witnessed some very strange aspects of Rusty's, but this was new. I couldn't completely suppress my pride.
Then, shockingly enough, Rusty lifted his paw and maneuvered it above the window controls on the arm of the door. His grin widened as the pads of his paw made contact with the button and his muscles forced it down. Their was an audible whine as the glass began to lower.
Both girls squealed in terror and rushed back toward where I was standing. Their timing was just right; the window was almost completely open. I could see my mom inside, shocked by the events that were unfolding. As the final glimpse of glass vanished into the door, Rusty leaped, his continuous grin causing his jowls to quiver. His triumph was obvious. I remember the moment in slow-motion. Rusty's leg muscles tightened as he leaped, his mouth now gaping, and his eyes fixed upon the prey. I also remember my mom, faster than I believed she could move, lurching across the center console of the car and reaching for his left ankle. Could she reach him in time? Were the girls about to face the insanity and mad intentions of my good-looking pup?
Mom wasn't late. Her hand grasped Rusty's ankle in mid-leap. His small body careened in the air for a fraction of a second before gravity pulled him down. His body slammed against the exterior of the car door, and he hung there, dangling comically. The high-pitched barking commenced as I rushed forward and hauled him the rest of the way into the car. Poor dog, I thought, his moment of glory had been short-lived. As mom rolled the window up (she made sure to engage the child-lock), Brooke and Cholena recovered from their terror and let out shaky laughs. I chuckled along with them, finding the whole situation hilarious. This was a time I would forever cherish, for intense situations are best treated with humor and a good laugh. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment