Last weekend I went shopping for furniture for my tiny screen porch which is outside my kitchen door. I felt if I put comfy chairs I just might sit out there and read or enjoy the outdoors more. I searched Lowes and then hit Target, but everything was way too big and clunky.
As I headed to the outdoor section at Target, I detoured to the bike area. The day before I bought my decade old bike to the shop for a tune up. I now needed a helmet and gloves. I am determined to get exercise. As always, weight is an ongoing heinous battle, but now I've the added issues of an older much less limber body. Time to do something about it.
So now I'm in the bike aisle and my sister calls me. There is a portable drop leaf table and chairs set at Lowes which she is certain will be perfect for my porch. And it's a reasonable price of $79.00. I take the information and plan to return to Lowes and search. As I put the phone away something catches my eye. It's a bicycle trailer which allows children to sit and ride safely towed by an adult. I look it over longingly. The pug would fit nicely on the seat. He is nearly 14 with congestive heart issues and a bad back leg. He can't walk for more than a block. And he sits in the house all day sleeping, and looking somewhat bored. As I study the trailer I become more convinced - the pug would love this! But I'm supposedly on a budget. And I wanted porch furniture. I look at the price - are you ready? Conveniently on sale for $79. Coincidence, no?
I ponder and ponder then decide that I will forgo the furniture. The pug and I will be better suited getting out, getting exercise and seeing the world. I assembled the carrier, but didn't have the wrench to attach the mount to the bike. So the first morning I decide it's time to try things out. Still no wrench, I decide to use the handy stroller mount. I place one of the pug's many beds in the carrier and place him on it. He sits slightly back, half on the bed, half off. He looks out the window and seems quite content.
I plug in my earphones and turn Punkin (the iPod) on shuffle and set off. As I push the carrier I pass several mothers walking or running with strollers. One couple with two dogs go by and laugh at the site of the pug. The woman asks if there is something wrong with him, and I confess it's his age. As I round a block I see a mother carefully watching her young son toddle precariously down her driveway. His arms are extended and he sways with ever step. I smile and ask, "He's just learning to walk?" Proudly she admits he's been walking a month now. "And yours... but she doesn't finish as she runs to catch her son from falling. She sweeps him into her arm and turns back to me as I pass her. Her face wrinkles as she tries to see into the carrier. I am certain by that evening I'm some sort of Urban Myth, the woman with the furry baby.
For the first few days I continue the stroller. I want to give him time to get used to things before I pick up the speed. Yesterday I decided it was time to start rolling. The pug danced around as I attached his trailer.
When I placed him inside, he quickly settled in his bed, happy and content. We rolled on.
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