Four Letter Words

There are certain words I've learned that can instantly get my motor running. And, they are all four letter words:

• Swim

• Pond

• Dock

• Ball

When Ms. Alpha said the "S" word at sunrise, my brave little heart set to racing and I knew we were in for a treat.

We go to a very, very private yet public pond here on Martha's Vineyard. Absolutely no one is ever there except us, some Canada Geese (who like to watch!) and a swan or two. It's a magical place for us where time stops and the rest of the world falls away. Just me and her.

It's so magical that I get a sense of peace and oneness with the world. I am Zen Dog. That's because I've discovered what I was born to do and I have a new sense of happiness and peace.

I like to stand very still and watch things....patterns in the water....geese paddling and honking....the pond grasses waving in the breeze....the patterns in the clouds.....dragonflies lazing on the water's surface. Imagine that! Me—a border collie, aka Perpetual Motion Machine, getting contemplative!

There is a rhythm to our special mornings on the pond. She throws. I bound, leap, swim and fetch. Then I give a mighty shake to dry my fur. Over and over. I think swimming & fetching is my Most Favorite Thing in the world. It is a form of work and I have been bred to work.

As the ancient Greeks said, "Know thyself". For me, a border collie, I have discovered the joys of watching and working: I am Zen Dog.

Oh, and before I forget, the most important four letter word is Love. I love to do what I'm meant to do. And I love the Alphas for giving me the opportunity to do it.

First I watch and survey my pond.

Then I go to work.

I must fetch the floating bone

that Ms. Alpha keeps throwing away.

Then I watch for when and where she throws it again.

Then I work, bounding into my pond

to save the floating bone.

I always get the floating bone back to shore.

Then I shake dry.

Come watch me and play the video!