Today after I got off work, we made a semi-spontaneous road trip to Ames. One of our top customers had placed a big order this week, and we realized it was more cost effective to hand deliver her items than to mail. Plus we got to see her! (Hi Nicole!)
After that, we stopped by the house of our friends and fellow consultants, Brian and Danielle. We were able to hang out, catch up, and do some trading of inventory. We also got to hang out with their dogs.
Now, I used to think a was a pet person. My family always had multiple cats growing up, and one of them, a beautiful gray kitty named Taffy, was deemed "mine". I almost took her to college with me, then realized that the dorm that allowed pets was the ugliest one on campus - and had communal bathrooms, while the other ones were prettier and you only had to share a bathroom with one person. Apologies to the cat, but the pretty dorm won.
When I moved to Atlanta for seminary, I did take Taffy with me. She was a very timid cat, so she always hid when we had people over. I think some people didn't even realize until our second year that I even had a cat. When I moved back home for a year after school, my dad was more excited by the fact that my cat was coming home than the fact that I was. And when I moved to Ames, she of course went with me again.
Then I married Joel, who is decidedly not a pet person. He likes animals, loves them even, but doesn't see the value of owning them. And I have to admit, over the years I have come around to his point of view. When we moved to Fort Dodge, we gave Taffy back to my parents, and she lived there until she passed away last year. I loved her, but at that point, I realized she would have a better life with my parents.
Now, I am so glad not to have a pet. I still like animals, and I enjoy visiting other people's pets, but I don't think I'll ever own one again. I heard a quote on NPR the other day that summed it up nicely, "A pet is just something you have that you put money into, and get poop out."
I must say, Brian and Danielle's dog Gracie was almost cute enough to make me reconsider my position:
But then she peed on the floor twice while we were there so that feeling passed quickly.
XOXO, Bethany