For the second time, Gracie and I (and Bruce) took the city bus downtown to the Twins game. It was an afternoon game that started a little after three, so we went to the nearest bus stop a little before 2. The forecast was for another hot, humid day. In addition, the Minneapolis Aquatennial had downtown activities planned that could potentially increase the downtown traffic. We usually like to take the bike route to day games; however, thunderstorms were in the forecast for later in the day.
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| Hot but not as hot as predicted! |
The bus was late by five to ten minutes. By the fifth or so stop, it seemed to be full. Fortunately, I was able to sit right behind the driver with fluffy, clean Gracie on my lap. Even though the bus "seemed" full, more and more people were able to squeeze on. I suppose something like the settling of cereal in a cereal box was the principle at work here. At one point, when the bus seemed ready to burst apart at the seams, a man with a huge suitcase on wheels and a vacuum cleaner asked the driver to put down the accessibility ramp. I'd never seen this done before. The seat right behind the driver provided a great view. The ramp slides out from the bottom step. A flap drops down at the end. The man stepped on, pulling his suitcase and vacuum on next to him. Then the driver raises the platform like an elevator until it is level with the interior bus floor. Even more amazing, however, was the man who gave up his seat for the vacuum cleaner guy and even helped get the guy's stuff out the aisle for him. Most of the crowd got off when we did, apparently on their way to the game as well. Gracie was most amazing of all. She rode quietly, motionless except for an occasional turn of her head.
When we got to the stadium, we stopped at what is now Gracie's restroom--a grassy knoll surrounded by benches--and she "hurried up." She has to jump up on a bench to reach the raised grassy area. Thankfully, she is not at all shy about relieving herself in front of an audience. Because the game started a bit late, we were still at the game when it was time for Gracie to eat. I had a few dog biscuits in my pocket, which seemed to tide her over. I could easily have just brought her dinner to the game since she likes eating it out of my hand anyway (not all strange habits are bad!) Should the situation occur again, I will do just that. Making sure she is comfortable is sensible and not, as some may percieve it to be, "pampering" her. And anyway, what is wrong with pampering her? I think we all need to out the inner Puritan in us and get over the idea that helping others or thinking of the comfort of others is something to avoid because it encourages them to be weak or, worse yet, interferes with God's plan for their suffering. Please!
After the game, Gracie navigated the crowd inside and outside the stadium like a pro. We stopped at the grassy knoll for a quick "hurry up," which she again did with her typical grace and speed. As an aside, back when I was teaching college composition at Normandale Community College, I was assigned an office across from the offices of several instructors from the nursing program. Posted on the door of one was a list called something like "The 10 Rules for Living Happily." One of the rules was this: "Never pass up the opportunity to go to the bathroom." The other nine rules escape me. That one stuck because it seemed odd at first but then, as I thought about it, made sense. And so simple to follow too. Gracie and I live by it.
The bus ride home was even more crowded than the ride down and the bus was bigger too. Thanks to Bruce's fancy footwork, we were able to be at the just the right place to be among the first to board at our hugely populated stop. Consequently, we again got a seat in front. Gracie settled on my lap, and the air conditioning on the bus made having an extremely furry and warm dog on my lap pleasant.
The bigger the challenges we tackle, the more amazing Gracie shows herself to be. Practice, practice, practice! Maybe that was one of the ten rules too: "When you need to do something well, don't just worry about it, practice." If it wasn't a rule for living happily, it would make a good one.
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