I love our two dogs.
They’re not perfect and they frustrate me at times, but the unconditional love they give me is truly a precious gift. I try to reciprocate it every day as well as my imperfect human heart can manage.
I don’t just love our dogs; I love all dogs. I still love every canine I’ve ever been privileged to share home and hearth with.
I love my friends’ and family members’ dogs. I love my neighbors’ dogs – even the ones that bark nonstop (although I do have a bone to pick with dog owners who leave them outside and let them become a nuisance).
Near the top of my beloved dogs list is Jedi, our neighbor’s gorgeous golden retriever, pictured above.
Jedi has been in our lives for many years and was in fact married to our sweet Goldendoodle Autumn during not one but several elaborately staged dog weddings back when Zoe and our neighbor friends were between the ages of about 4 and 6.
Jedi and Autumn were close in age and very compatible. Whenever Jedi would come over and visit with us in our backyard, he and Autumn would play and run together like besties. A third neighbor dog, Apollo, would always come over to join in the fun. We called these spontaneous play dates “dog parties” and we looked forward to them every afternoon.
I’m happy to say that, although Apollo’s family moved away and our sweet Autumn has passed on, our yard still hosts epic dog parties. Our neighbor Jedi has grown older and is less likely to run and play, but he still comes over and visits with our two dogs even though they act like complete maniacs.
Honestly, sometimes I wonder why Jedi still does come over. Lamborghini gets so excited to see him that she either jumps on top of him or runs wacky high-speed circles all around him.
Lambo does not know how to welcome Jedi gently or match his peaceful energy – instead, she is pure chaos on four legs. When she gets her zany zoomies going, she is liable to knock someone over and send them flying. Thankfully, Jedi is a rather sturdy gentleman and not easily tumbled.
Little Dani, on the other hand, screams her ever-loving head off the second Lambo’s shenanigans start. It’s worth noting that Dani doesn’t bark at Jedi if Lambo isn’t around. She’s not actually barking at Jedi, she’s just upset at the Lamborghini-flavored chaos that Jedi’s appearance always seems to cause.
Dani knows that if Lambo happens to zoom into her little body at high speeds, she’s likely to go flying like a tumbleweed. Dani does not like chaos or shenanigans of any kind – we jokingly call her the fun police.
I hate the way she barks right in Jedi’s face while the poor old boy just stands there sharing his gentle energy and graciously attempting to calm her. I always ask Dani to stop but she just goes right on yapping until Jedi leaves and Lambo eventually calms down.
So, why would Jedi regularly subject himself to the insanity that is a dog party in our yard? Does he miss Autumn and their well-matched play, or does he truly like our current – albeit chaotic – canine duo?
Jedi comes over just about every day – sometimes once in the morning and again in the afternoon. He truly seems to enjoy Lambo and Dani. He loves them for exactly who they are and doesn’t expect them to change. He keeps coming back despite the utter chaos unleashed upon him.
We can all use a friend like Jedi who helps co-regulate and calm us. Jedi never expects Dani or Lamborghini to be anything other than who they are. And who knows, maybe one day our two dogs will get the message and be calm with Jedi in return.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to believe that we are not worthy of dogs and their unconditional love. I’m so thankful that Dani and Lambo get to be friends with Autumn’s sweet, beloved Jedi.
May they all live forever.
