won't you be my neighbor?

the grass is green. the girls are silly. the sun is setting. it’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood…

new roommate alyson moves in on sunday. current roommate melissa moves out tomorrow. i am sad.

the girls and i played on the grass on sunday. we rolled around and wrestled and watched and looked and played tag and keep away and pretend-i-don’t-hear you and bark at all passing things that move. i lay on the ground to take pictures.

the small girl completely attacks me when i’m laying down, licking my ears and pouncing all over a living, breathing thing that is smaller than her. she runs back and forth, in and out of her yard, the Neighbor’s yard, and the tree/bush in the front by the porch that houses squeaky sparrows and rustling leaves. she explores under the branches like a small, nosey detective; only the shaking branches give away her whereabouts. she is small, she is loyal and too addicted to attention to leave home for long; she is allowed to run free in the front, because the second i call her name she bounds back to me, as if i just told her she won the doggy lottery. the puppy eyes and energy are endearing.

the old girl sits regally, staring at the Neighbor’s yard, willing him to come out to play with his dogs, willing him and his treats to come out and grace her with their presence. she loves the Neighbor more than she loves me, sometimes- he gives better attention, is a stranger that doesn’t discipline her, and let’s face it, he has better treats than i do. she ignores me, but sits peacefully, observing the world slowly spin by, hoping there’s meat flavored chewy treat at the end of this day. patience is her virtue.

the girls are my mental health gauge. when i’m irritated with them, i know something is off balance: if i look at jola and don’t feel underlying love and adoration for the most constant in my life over the past four years, then i know i am not spiritually fit or at peace with myself. when i look at myla’s zeal for life, and can’t laugh with her, then i know i am taking life too seriously. these two girls are my self-prescribed medicine- jo’s peace and myla’s humor keep my crazy head in check. i am sure they make everyone around us crazy- they run away, they bark, they shed like crazy and track in all sorts of mud and weird backyardigans… but they do it because they are just being who they are. and they do it with love and sincerity. and when they relax with a big sigh, laying their heads on my feet or legs at bedtime, i know that they are the best roommates i could ever ask for.