My mom gets all knotted up around this time of year, which means I get to earn my keep as Official Stress Relief source. It’s not a role I chose when I got adopted.
Here’s what happens. My mom Cathy hates to drive. That’s why she moved to a city. She rents out her garage space.
Okay, she’s weird. She actually loves riding buses. She would rather ride buses than cabs. “The drivers gab on their cell phones,” she says,”or I have to talk to them and listen to their political views. On a bus I get to read or sleep. We help the environment. What’s not to like?”
I like buses in Seattle too. I get to sit on my mom’s lap and look out the window. The bus drivers like me. Other passengers fuss over me.
But then we go visit her friends. When it’s time to go home, my mom wants to take the bus. “It’s safe,” she says. “It’s free because I have a pass. It’s very comfortable and I can sleep or catch up on my email via cell phone. And it’s usually faster than driving because buses barrel through the lights and barge past the cars. What’s the problem?”
The problem is, her friends get upset. “It’s dark. It’s a holiday. We can’t let you take the bus.”
My mom won’t let them drive her. “If anything happened on a dark holiday night,” she says, “I’d never forgive myself. Anyway, why should they make a long car trip? The bus is 2 blocks away.”
So she ends up either refusing the invitation (even though she likes going and the friends enjoy having her over) or calling a cab that costs almost $40 (plus listening to the driver’s cell phone chatter and having to explain that “the dog is friendly and doesn’t shed much”) and resenting the whole thing.
Today she was discussing the problem with my Aunt Sara, the dogwalker, while I waited patiently to get going. Aunt Sara is usually on her side, but this time she said, “No way. I won’t let friends take a bus, especially on a holiday.”
Aargh. My mom hates it when she can’t change people’s minds. See, if I’d waited long enough, I’d have been adopted by a rich owner with a couple of Mercedes who really liked to drive…
Gracie, you have my sympathy about the whole bus thing – if only the humans would listen to us – or at least give us a vote!
But at least I don’t have to worry about the whole transportation dilemma. I’m just fine at home thank you – I love it when my Mom is out and not getting in my way and messing up the sunny spots!
Soxy on the other hand seems glad when they get back – she’s practically jumping up and down – and then into their laps! Ughh! So I can’t say I agree with your comment on your last post – that cats are not classier than dogs – but you do have a point that there are always some bad apples – Soxy for one.
On the other hand, we haven’t met so I can’t be sure- but you seem to be a special kind of dog – very perceptive with your own good sense of yourself!