Buju and the shoe...

“Without [play], life just doesn’t taste good.”

- Lucia, Capocchione: 

Italian-American Psychologist

 

There are two characters in this brief story, as the title suggests:

 

1.    One very animate - a three-year-old, sixty or so pounder (29kg), Portuguese Water Dog - 'Buju' (Boo-Joo).     

 

2.    One inanimate size 14 moderate hiker - 'the shoe.'

A little history…

We were visiting an adopted family in Vancouver. This story's origin goes back more than a quarter of a century and began, as most things have in my life, as an unguarded moment when I met the late patriarch of the Cheong family, Wing Lee. We traveled to China, Singapore, and Taiwan for several years. He was the brother I never had.

 

Fast forward…

His eldest son, Chung, and his mother, Sally, visited us in March of this year. It was great, but the days were too short. They invited us to visit them in Vancouver, and so at the end of May, we did.  

 

Chung found a lovely B&B for a week's holiday near the University (UBC). Coming from the desert, finding lush tall trees and hiking trails everywhere was quite a change.

 

The mornings were in the low 50°s F (11ish C°). Our hostess had a pool in the backyard with some deck furniture. The area was surrounded by a moderately high fence and evergreen trees. Sitting in the mornings, drinking coffee, reading a little, eating breakfast, and spending some meditative time was a treat.

 

Buju appears…

The first morning (Friday), as we left for the day, we unexpectedly encountered Buju, an integral part of this story. He followed us to the gate, exiting the backyard, jumping all over us until we were safely out. It was a day to look around Vancouver and get our feet on the ground.

 

The second morning (Saturday), Buju was lying in front of the glass door to our basement apartment. I opened the door and played with him a little…he was even more active than the first day. When our friend arrived to take us on the day's adventure, joining a Dragon Boat group and an afternoon wander around Granville Island. Buju was ecstatic…one more person to play with. As we left for the day, the scene from the day before was repeated.

 

The third morning, Buju was back at the door…a glass-framed door—important in the tale. Apparently, he had noticed the shoes near the door the day before. When Chung arrived to pick us up, I opened the door to let him in. At that very moment, Buju charged in and grabbed the shoe. Before we could stop him, he was in the backyard playing, 'Get the shoe from the dog.'

 

For the next twenty minutes or so, it was a mostly unsuccessful attempt to get that shoe back. It was play, after all – right? Chung and I looked like we were in a comedy sketch, trying to catch 'Buju with the shoe.' In the end, we got the shoe back, but not before all the players were worn out. I'm unsure who tired out the most, Chung, me or Buju. Okay, I am sure…it was me!

 

Our hostess was mortified and for the rest of the time we were in her home, Buju was kept in the house until we were gone for the day…much to my disappointment. 

 

The last few days as I drank coffee and read, I thought about Buju and my shoe. It was challenging to chase that dog all over the backyard, but it was fun! I was reminded of George Bernard Shaw’s quote: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

 

I think I could use a little more Buju in my life!

 

- ted