A Holiday Moment of Love and Joy

A short, holiday story full of love, great joy, and two pit bulls.

I’m prone to telling stories and passing them off as true. This is not such a time. This story is all true.

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Every day I walk Sula and Rya, our two rescue pit bulls. Sometimes once. Usually twice. And no matter the rain, wind, snow, or sun.

After we finish each walk and get inside, the three of us have a little routine.

We sit, sometimes on the floor but usually on the couch, and each tucks themselves into one of my shoulders.

I lean close and, one-at-a-time, say, “Thank you for our walk today. I love you.”

Then, I scratch their heads, and we sit together for a good, long moment.

It’s warm today, but the ground is damp and muddy. Sula, Rya, and I went to the park early. We ran and laughed and smiled and muddied up ourselves something fierce. When we got back inside the house, we all sat on the floor together so I could wipe their paws clean.

Few things in life are stronger than a dog who doesn’t want to lift a paw to have it cleaned, and this morning they were having none of it. Dirty towel in hand, I tried my best, but failed.

So, we sat there and while I scratched their heads, they pressed close until 150-pounds of muddy pit bull rested on my lap.

I held their heads close and whispered, “Merry Christmas, Sula. Merry Christmas, Rya. Thank you for our walk. I love you.”

Rya tilted her head and gazed at me for a second. Then, she leaned in and licked my face.

Sula raised her hefty, muddy paw, looked at me, and pressed it against my chest—right over my heart. I placed a hand atop hers.

We sat together—one dog licking my beard and the other balancing awkwardly on three legs—for as long as we could.

And although it was a short moment, it was a moment full of love and great joy.

Friends- Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. We love you. And we’ll see you when we see you.