Potato Turns Two
Potato is my doggo. He’s more than that, though.
I feel like everyone who has a dog that they love dearly knows what I’m talking about. Tato is also a blanket, a doorbell, a teddy bear, and a vacuum. Tato is a good friend. And today, he turns two-years-old.
Living with Potato reminds me of some of the better aspects that life has to offer. He is relentlessly hopeful. He is always eager to exercise and be outdoors. He is content to eat the same thing every day. He prefers to snuggle but also knows when to take alone time. He is fascinated by the smallest things.
Before we had Potato, I would read Mary Oliver’s poetry on dogs and wonder how someone could have such profound realizations—let alone find the words for them—from watching a dog?
Now I get it. I GET IT. I have learned so much from Potato’s way of being in the world and from my way of responding to him. I’ve learned about unconditional love and how hard I am on myself for things that are inevitably flawed and human. I have grown confident in knowing another being’s needs: I know what each little bark or squeak means, when he’s hungry or needs to go out, what he wants before he tells me. While there are many, many differences between pets and children, raising Potato has given me new courage for my hope to someday become a parent.
To celebrate a dog’s birthday is very much not about the dog. DUH. It is about recognizing what he brings to our little family and expressing our appreciation and noting our growth. I mean, are we going to make him a cake? DUH. But unlikely he’ll remember yesterday was any different. Which is exactly why I love him so, so much.
Now, I’ll leave us with a *small* selection of some of my favorite Po-tographs.
xo
em
GOTCHA DAY
TATER TOT
PO AND FRIENDS
