Sunday night, I got an unexpected, to say the least, call from my sister. Her dog, Tasha, just died. Tasha was only 7 years old, and seemed fine... just don't get it.

According to my sister, Tasha "screamed" (like a howl, only very weird), and dropped. My brother-in-law jumped over a chain-link fence to get to Tasha. [even more of a feat once you realize he's really short] But there was nothing to be done...

I know some may think it's weird for me to blog on this, but I have dog-sit (sat?) for that dog so many times... I was pretty attached to her... considering my allergies, my sister's dogs may be the closest I have to having my own in my adult life.

So I go out to my parents' "back 40" [acres], because you apparently can't bury a dog in your back yard in the freaking suburbs, and I start wandering about, looking for the cracker barrel from which I sprang (otherwise known as my parents and sisters), when I noticed this small calico cat following me

No matter where I walked, that cat was by my side... and I was walking in the woods at dusk and in the dark. I started calling it (later-him) "Guide". If I wasn't allergic to cats, he would have come home with me...

So when I got to my family, and started talking with my sister about the dog, Tasha, I started think of peculiar things about her, and, oddly enough, how they have reminded me of quirks in my new dating life....

When I first met Tasha, she was very skittish, and wouldn't let me get too close to her. She needed time to get used to me, to get comfortable with me. I would play with her, and after awhile, she would come to me, and love all over me.

For some bizarre reason, thinking of this made me reflect on some recent dates.... If a guy tries to get too physical, too soon, I get skittish and retreat a bit. Now, it's usually not irretriveable on the guy's part, unless he doesn't get the cue to back off a bit.

But once I'm comfortable with him... that's another matter entirely....

Let's see, there was the guy who started kissing my neck, never even attempting to kiss me on the mouth. HUH? And the one who just "swooped in" when  I was completely off guard, standing nowhere near him, to attempt a make-out? Again, HUH? Reminder-- we're not talking about teens or 20-somethings... these are guys in their 40s!

Now I remember why I wasn't looking forward to being "out there" again...

After playing with Tasha for awhile, she loved me. My sister had 2 other dogs, Chy and Vinnie. Whenever I (or anyone) come(s) over, Chy and Vinnie are immediately all over them. Tasha would always hold back, even with people she knows, until the other two were done hogging the attention. Then, she would come to say hello, to get a little loving...

My sister is absolutely crushed over Tasha's death. I'm actually crying a little now as I think of it. I haven't been to her place since, but I can only imagine it will be short one "person" for me....