Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Block Dog


The wife is out of town for the week. She’s back in Texas attending baby showers for her very pregnant sister and spending time with her cancer stricken father. It’s a strange time for her, a mixture of joy and sorrow.

For the first time, I’m experiencing what its like to be the one back at home when the spouse leaves. She’s had to endure this several times but this is the first time the tables have been turned and it’s really strange. The condo feels so empty. I spent the first forty years of my life on my own and after only eight months of marriage, living alone again feels unnatural.

Granted, there are a few advantages, I don’t feel the need to shave every day, I don’t have to share the remote, and I get to leave the toilet seat up, but that’s about it.

Recently, I’ve been listening to an old David Wilcox CD on my ipod. A good friend re-introduced me to this little known artist that I had forgotten. I ran across a song he wrote that well expresses the changes brought about by my upgraded marital status.

Block Dog:

I had a long talk with the block dog
All summer he runs with the kids
He's happy as a block dog
Every day the choice is his

'Cause they all feed him when he's hungry
They all keep him from the cold
But he don't wear their collar
He makes the neighborhood his home

There'll be a fireplace in the winter
There's lots of houses down this street
Summertime he'll catch your frisbee
Beg the best of your dinner meat

I had a long talk with the block dog
All summer he runs with the kids
He's happy as a block dog
Every day the choice is his.

I said Rusty, I'm gettin' married
I used to like your kind of life
But life's different now, it's like a garden
I'd like to tend it with my wife

Dig in one spot make a straight row
You're only diggin' to hide the bone
But when I lived so free alone
I had an empty harvest

I had a long talk with the block dog
All summer he runs with the kids
He's happy as a block dog
Every day the choice is his

Rusty looked up, sad at me and said
Dave, I understand
'Cause we're different now, I'm still a dog
And you're acting like a man."

I had a long talk with the block dog
All summer he runs with the kids
He's happy as a block dog
Every day the choice is his

I ain't nothin' but a hound dog
I ain't nothin' but a hound dog

Thanks for the harvest you’ve brought to my life sweetie. Come home soon. We’ve got a garden to tend and a life to build.

4 comments:

Crystal Gable said...

This was so sweet. I like the song lyrics and they're even more touching because we got a call today from my husband's parents and their dog has cancer and they're losing him. It's so sad.

Hope your honey comes home soon. I feel bad now because I was teasing her on her blog about not posting anything... she needs to leave a note good bye for her audience:-)

Tracy said...

Awww, you're the sweetest!

I miss you, too, and I'll be home soon.

xoxo,
Me

Cherry said...

B - don't get too used to that whole leaving the seat up business! I know this sounds romantic and everything, but just think of her every time you lift it, and keep thinking of her until you put it down. (keep thinking of her even after that too, because I realize you can't stop anyway).

Starshine - you better watch that when you get back! I find they tend to revert pretty darn quickly!

Autumn's Mom said...

Awww That at the end touched me so. Wishing Starshine home to you soon. Don't forget to put the seat down ;)