My way

I often become despondent when things don't go my way. Sometimes, the great dreams and plans I have never make it off the drawing board, and I'm stuck with what I started out with. This discourages me. Also, it reminds me of my dog.

Recently, it has come to my attention that she truly believes she must supervise me while I'm in the bathroom. If I do not manage to close the door all the way before I get down to business, she will drop in unannounced and plop herself on the ground next to me while I'm sitting on the toilet, and refuse to leave until I am finished. Yet, if I remember to close the door all the way, she will stand outside it and whine the whole time as if I am denying her one of life's great pleasures.

This raises some questions. First, when did my dog start believing she should be my bathroom chaperon? Also, how does the stink not bother her acute sense of smell? Lastly, does she really believe that she is making the world a better place with this new routine?

I can only venture a guess at the first two, but, knowing my dog, I would say the answer to the last question is a definite 'yes.' My dog is fully confident that her existence is essential to our functioning. I can see evidence of this by the offense she takes when strangers come to the door, or when a rabbit dares enter our yard, or when, walking by a neighbor's driveway, she proudly picks up their newspaper and tries to walk home with it, perhaps aware that we are no longer rich enough to afford our own. She takes great pride in what she does, and becomes disgruntled when I try to shove her out the bathroom door.

I am not so far removed from her mindset though. I fume and become disgruntled when things don't go my way, especially if I had nothing but good intentions in mind. I get upset when my well-laid plans don't happen, and accuse God of apathy when my projects fail to succeed. I whine outside the bathroom door, knowing that I surely belong inside, with no real purpose to serve, just another nose to breathe in the stench.