Fowl Play

Hello friends and helllloooo summer! 😎

Summer has arrived and with it some BIG news. My pal Disco officially became family when my brother married my girlfriend. I know. I’ve sniffed around the family tree myself and still can’t explain it. Just know Disco and I are finally family, and it feels pretty doggone good.

May flew by in a blur of wedding celebrations, family gatherings, and welcoming Disco to the family. Now that the honeymoon is over and the hoomans are back to their regular routines, it’s time to tell you about a lesson I learned from my new nephew.

As part of my wedding responsibilities, I volunteered to keep an eye on Disco. Since the best way to supervise a young pup is on a trail, I took him down one of my favorite tree-lined paths to see what the ravine had in store for us.

This wasn’t Disco’s first adventure with me. Only a few short weeks ago, he learned a prickly lesson from a porcupine and realized he needs to keep his nose out of other critters’ business. Since he’d already had one ruff encounter this spring, I figured it was my duty to show him how an experienced explorer handles the forest. At least that was my plan…

At first, the trail was pretty uneventful. The usual birds were singing overhead, and the creek rippled from somewhere down below. Disco had trotted ahead of me and was taste-testing some tall grass while I kept a watchful eye.

Then out of nowhere, I heard a loud whooshing sound. I froze at the sight of the wingspan. For a moment, I thought it was an eagle. But as it swept through the trees, I could see it was a wild turkey. He must not have realized I was there because he landed only a few yards away. And that put me in the perfect position for a turkey chase!

I took off like a rocket. The turkey zigged. I zagged. The turkey clucked. I barked. The turkey darted through the woods. I followed. Surely I was gaining ground. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. But that bird was faster than me. Much faster. Eventually, he disappeared. All I had left to catch was my breath. The turkey was gone, leaving behind only a feather and a reminder that sometimes the things we chase lead us farther from the path than we ever intended to go. 

As I looked around, I realized everything seemed different. There were fallen trees and rotting logs. Thick brush and strange smells. Nothing felt familiar. That’s when I realized…I had crossed the property line. And somehow, during all the excitement, I had lost Disco!

I stood there listening. Far off in the distance, I heard my hooman calling my name, “Jaaaaack!” Relief washed over me. Until I realized I wasn’t sure which direction her voice was coming from. I started trotting toward what I thought was home.

A few moments later, her voice sounded even farther away. I stopped. Turned around. Tried another direction. No matter which way I turned, it felt like I was headed in the wrong direction. Usually, I know these woods like the back of my paw. But suddenly, I felt completely lost.

Then I started replaying every decision I’d made. Why had I chased that turkey? Why hadn’t I paid attention to where I was going? Why didn’t I stay with Disco? In all my excitement, I never noticed I was running farther and farther away from the people who cared about me. The turkey was gone. The trail was gone. And I wasn’t nearly as confident as I had been a few minutes earlier. So I plopped down on a hillside to regroup.

That’s when I heard it – Bark! Woof! Bark! The sound echoed through the trees. At first, it was faint. Then it got louder. And louder. I lifted my head. And there, standing at the top of the hill, was Disco. His big tongue hanging out. Tail wagging. Standing tall and proud of his excellent sniffer skills.

I don’t know if he used those super sniffer skills to track me down or if he helped my hooman find me. All I know is that somehow my faithful sidekick was suddenly back in sight. Relief washed over me. Disco barked once more and turned down the trail.

Normally, I would have taken the lead. After all, I was the experienced explorer. But this time, I decided to trust him. So I followed. A few moments later, I caught sight of my hooman in the distance. I ran toward her as fast as my paws would carry me. Safe. Loved. Home.

Looking back, I was never going to catch that turkey. But I did find something much more important. My family. Sometimes we become so focused on what’s right in front of us that we forget to look up. We get caught chasing something exciting and convince ourselves it’s somehow more important. And before we know it, we’ve wandered farther from home than we ever intended. Thankfully, family has a way of helping us find our way back. Sometimes they call our name. Sometimes they wait patiently for us. And sometimes they show up on a hillside barking until we finally lift our heads and see them.

That day, I thought I was leading Disco on an adventure. Instead, Disco took the lead. And in doing so, he reminded me that sometimes the people who love us can see what we cannot. When we’re willing to listen, trust them, and follow their lead for a little while, they just might help us find our way home.

So friends, as we head into summer, let’s remember to look up from whatever has captured our attention. Take in the view. Notice those walking beside you. Listen to the people who love you because the things we’re chasing aren’t always as important as they seem. Sometimes we just need someone who loves us enough to call our name, point us in the right direction, and wait for us to catch up. Sometimes the best thing a friend can do isn’t help you catch what you’re chasing. Sometimes it’s helping you find your way home.

I’ll bark at you again next month. Until then, follow my path on Facebook and Instagram and keep exploring. I’ll see you out on the trail. 🌞🐾

Your friend,