Summer in the Fall and Henry Takes a Shower

"A dog is not "almost human" and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such." ~ John Holmes

After five straight months of cloud cover over La Jolla, we finally had some real summer weather! I was determined to get out into the sunshine and enjoy as much of it as I was able. And that is just what I did.

Saturday was spent with Brian and the boys down on the grassy bluffs overlooking the magnificent Pacific Ocean on Coast Blvd. We brought our little chairs, an umbrella, our books and plenty of water. Brian walked the boys down to Childrens Pool and I relaxed with my book. When they were ready for some more exercise, I walked them one at a time. This time we headed down the stairs to the beach where we walked on the sand and waded in the surf. Walter and I even climbed on the rocks and hiked up the steep side of the bluff to where Brian and Henry were waiting. We saw a wedding, lots of tourists with cameras and a woman who had set up a small living room on the grass. Lots of activity for all of us to enjoy! After a couple of hours we were ready to go home. It was a great day.

Sunday promised to be sunny and hot and my plan was to take the boys to Fiesta Island where they could swim. Because we woke up late and were moving a little slow, I changed the plans. Instead we walked through the neighborhood and ended up down on Marine Street Beach. Luckily, the lifeguards are scarce at this time of year and we didn’t get booted. We were sans umbrella today and the sun was hot so we didn't stay too long on the beach. It was refreshing, though, just to walk along the shore and get our feet wet. When we got home, I gave my very hot and pooped-out boys a Freezy Bone to help cool them off. Then, we all sat out on the backyard patio in the shade for the rest of the afternoon - while I read my Charlotte Perkins Gilman short stories and listened to the hoots and hollers from the very enthusiastic neighboring Charger fans. It was another really good day.

After dinner, I decided to take a shower. I often talk to Henry and Walter as if they are human companions. As I got up to head to the shower, I casually said to Henry: “Mommy is going to take a shower, do you want to join me?” (Henry likes to lie on the cool tile floor in the bathroom.) He followed behind me down the hall and into the bathroom and plopped himself down on the floor. Very soon after I stepped into the shower and turned on the water, Henry’s cute little face peeked around the curtain. Next thing I knew, he very nonchalantly stepped into the shower! (We have a big walk-in type of shower). Appearing to be very relaxed, he sat down and let the water soak him down. He hung out in there with me for the duration of my shower as if this was a natural and common event. He even waited until I toweled him off before he stepped out. I marveled at this because in the past when Brian and I have bathed the dogs in the shower, they have always tried to bolt the very first chance they got!

Perhaps Henry decided to take a shower because of the heat but I think he actually took me up on my invitation when I asked him if he would like to join me!

These glorious creatures never cease to both amuse and amaze me.