There is an idiom that “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Ripley and I disagree. Ripley is considered an elderly canine (the oldest Doberman we’ve ever had) and I’m now just one year away from starting another significant decade. At least one of us is an “old dog.”
Ripley and I have learned a lot of new tricks here in Florida. For instance, Ripley has learned about the buoyancy of salt-water and loves a great salt-water swim. He reverts back to full-on puppy mode when in the water, splashing and playing with the most energetic of dogs. On one visit to the beach, something large came up so close to him that the wave nearly washed over his head. Ripley can now say, unlike Luca Brasi, that he swam with the fishes and lived to bark the tale. He’s learned that the sandy soil here in Florida is almost as cool and refreshing as the sandy soil at a certain northern Wisconsin cottage. He never enjoyed such relaxation at our home in Wauwatosa. Ripley met the neighborhood Big Dog, “Macho,” and promptly humped him. Florida dog.
I’ve relearned to enjoy reading a hard copy of the Sunday paper. With a bigger audience, the Tampa Bay Times, unlike the Milwaukee Shopper, is a real, bulky and satisfying page-turner.
I’ve learned that a one-hour commute can be a relaxing opportunity to catch up on world and local events, both morning and evening. As my son Carl puts it, it’s my NPR time. I’ve even learned to overlook the sloppy transitions from local NPR to national NPR on WUSF. I’m confident that with our new sustainer contribution they’ll up their game.
And parking, I’ve learned to not be bothered by parking on the front lawn, because, sometimes it’s the only place to park. No! It’s not a white trash thing. Florida!
I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut about politics. Again, because, Florida! All of the yard signs tell me to stick to the weather. I’ve learned to let my hair air-dry. It’s really the best option. The humidity is my friend as I grow out my locks, adding body and bounce to previously stick-straight hair. And sleeping au naturel is finally a comfortable option, because, Florida!
I’ve come to enjoy not having an assigned desk at work. I pick the workspace that will best meet my needs for the day, alternating between sitting and standing. Okay, I must admit that I’m an early bird in an office of late arrivals and I usually – no, always – gravitate to the same sit/stand desk next to the window. But I leave it absolutely clean every night so that if someone beats me into the office the next day, they could choose that desk (and endure my stink-eye).
I’ve embraced “jeans every day” in the workplace, pushing aside all the work dresses I’ve acquired over the years, saving only a few for the occasional business trip. It’s a pleasure to shop “smart casual.” Of course I need new clothes! Florida bonus.
The biggest change is something we hoped would happen when we took the plunge and moved here. We wanted to reinvent ourselves. Push into uncharted territory. My job has allowed me to do that. I am working on programs that I have never worked on before. I am in a brand new position where I am making the template that others will follow. I am not an old dog in this position—I am the puppy bringing excitement and enthusiasm to help support the folks who are working with really sexy products like bandages and mouthwash. And I love it.
Still challenging is making new friends. Months ago we planned a trip to De Soto Beach, a lovely spot with a beach for dogs. Dan packed two gourmet sandwiches, two small bags of chips, two little bottles of wine for me and a six-pack of good beer. In a slight huff I asked why he needed six beers for lunch. He replied that it’s always better to be prepared.
Once at the beach Ripley was having a blast, romping through the surf and tackling smaller dogs in a frenzy of play. A couple our age walked toward us with their dog, and soon the two dogs were running together like beasts in the wild. It turns out the man was a retired Wauwatosa Fire Fighter, and he, his wife and dog were traveling the country in their restored 1965 GMC bus. Dan did the Wisconsin thing of offering them a beer. They did the Wisconsin thing of accepting. They offered us a business card with their electronic info. I keep in touch with her on Facebook. The reason for the six-pack revealed. Wisconsin!
This led to Dan ordering cards for us (new trick)! This has been a great icebreaker as we meet new people. It’s a safe and less creepy way to say “Give us a call sometime!” In the words of the sage Carl Johnson, “Mom—this isn't like college, you don’t have a semester to work out whether someone may be a friend or not. Act on it now.” After the first scary few months, things are settling down nicely.
Today, October 3, is my birthday. I’ve come to grips with the fact that there will be no color changes in the trees. No tangy & crisp McIntosh apples (my favorites are a bit mushy here). On the bright side, most of the trees are so green that Dan can see them. I won’t have to listen to him whine “What’s the big deal with fall?” Evening temperatures will be in the 70s, the humidity is going down and I probably won’t need to bring out a sweatshirt until sometime in December or January.
On the other hand, this was a scary move for Ripley. He lost his home, his CARPETING, and everything he knew. He lived in a tiny hovel with two squabbling people for too many months. But it has changed. He likes the new house. He likes Griffin, the neighbor kid who stops by almost daily to play with him. He likes Macho. He loves being a salty-sea dog. And there is one room in the house with carpet so he can get a grip on his rawhide and have a good chew. He needs his own cards.
Old dog, new tricks? No problem.
Music that resonates:
