Reflections 10/14/2020: Yesterday was Roo’s 5th month anniversary, so I thought we’d celebrate with a jaunt around Johnson Reservoir, by Clement Park. Roo was fascinated by this new (paved) promenade! Sooo many new nooks and crannies to explore! Hundreds of dog smells to sniff and contemplate. New bushes to flush out fleeing bunnies! Dead fish to roll in! (Ahhhhh!!!) Roo’s newly acquired adolescence sparked a bit of resistant energy to my tugs on the 12 foot expando-leash! Did NOT want to be restrained! So his determination took him square into a thistle patch ripe for harvest! Unfortunately his fur was the harvesting tool! Responding to his screams of terror, (hear Tooter Turtle bellowing “Mr. Wizard!”), I braved the thistles to rescue him! We both emerged absolutely covered in these Velcro beauties! Roo was in shock! Couldn’t even move because his tender armpits were packed tightly with prickleys! So we began the arduous process of picking them off one by one. Painful when attached to his puppy fur. At first he cried out in protest, then realized he had no choice, and I was actually helping him. So he dutifully submitted to my freedom-producing fingers. Had to smile, God, when I recollected all the thistle patches You’ve had to extricate me from in my adolescent (and human) determination to “do it MY way!” Sticker removal IS painful! But necessary for renewed freedom… hopefully a new freedom that is more submissive and responsive to your protective tugs on my leash!