Sam and the Sliding Door

Her imperial Majesty, Xenia ( Empress of all she surveyed) viewed the sliding patio door with unalloyed joy. Previously, all expeditions outside commenced at the rear door; now, they started and finished conveniently by the dining room. The small porch offered a convenient perch from which she could view her domain in clement weather. At last, she could enjoy a panoramic view of the birdfeeders in the yard even when a blizzard threatened. There was nothing better than watching birds in the snow while being toasty warm and dry!

Our dog, Sam, feared the newly installed sliding patio door. He viewed that awful thing that slid shut on your tail – if you did not move swiftly, with suspicion. Introducing him to it was traumatic. It was terribly dangerous; didn’t the cat understand that it was merely waiting for the right moment to drop that mask of innocence and chomp across her tail or nose?

But Sam loved one thing above all else: chasing squirrels ( we call them grey fuzzy tails!). The grey fuzzy tails were the sworn enemy of Sam. Learning that Sam avoided the door by the bird feeders the fuzzy tails feasted on bird seed. By the time Sam Sallied forth from the back door they were laughing at him from high up in the trees.

Eventually, Sam determined to try the door. Just a few cautious ventures with his tail carefully tucked away from harm. Then, a few more. At last, the gray fuzzy tails were feasting on sunflower seed one morning, but out of the door burst the growling Sam to chase them away.

Sam came inside expecting accolades. Instead he was confronted by a hissing cat who’d had her bird and squirrel viewing extravaganza ruined by a barking dog.

Time flies, and years have gone by. This morning, it was Max, our cattle dog, who ran out the door to chase squirrels and birds, and it was Marcus and Sabrina hissing at him for spoiling their viewing pleasure.

As much as things change, somethings do remain the same.