Donna’s Border Collie Maya could have her own commercials – endorsing what, I don’t know – though I know Maya would have some great ideas. The theme would be akin to the “World’s Most Interesting Man” Dos Equis series. I can easily envision Maya anywhere, doing anything, with class, expertise and a certain serenity that makes even the most difficult or dangerous task appear natural to her.
Maya is here now serving a higher purpose to those with who she shares this walkabout. She is a delightful, delicious mix of pragmatism, work ethic and humor. If she accepts you, it is a special feeling.
Maya is always watching – one of the things I love about her is she wants you to know she’s watching. As soon as you look away her still, deep eyes land. When you look back, she purposely holds your gaze only long enough to let you know she doesn’t care you know she’s observing. She lifts an eyebrow daintily and lightly glances away as if she was never really looking at you in the first place.
Maya can see in the window of any soul. She understands what most cannot, with the exception of Godric the cat.
Maya is a true girlfriend to Boo and Boo is smitten with her – Boo thinks Maya is magical. Though they operate on different vibrational frequencies Maya has always been comfortable in Boo’s energy, even back when Boo was rattling about like woodpeckers ganging on a tin roof after the summer rains bring out the bugs.
We call Maya “The Divine Miss M.” for Maya – the “M” could also represent “Manipulator.” Though Maya is acutely adept in her swaying of humans, watching her playfully calculating the “next step” Boo takes in their made-up games is best.
On one play date Maya lay beside the pool and set-up an “all-in” Boo by tossing or tapping a ball into the water once Boo gleefully delivered it to her. The expression – and vibe – Maya gave me and Donna each time she put the ball in the pool and we watched Boo go to the steps and plunge in to retrieve it was priceless.
Another time while the two played with a soccer ball, Maya brought and placed it on the ground near Donna and I – then nonchalantly looked away, enabling – possibly encouraging – maybe even willing – Boo to rip through, grab it and take off.
Of course Boo took the bait, Maya trailing her until Boo dropped the ball and Maya scooped it up to return to us. They played in this manner a few times until one pass where Maya dropped the ball between Donna and I only to lithely reach down and pull it back with Lucy-like precision just before Charlie “Boo” Brown plowed through to place the kick. This new twist continued every few pass-bys, Boo amazed and excited anew with childlike wonder by the disappearing ball each time. Boo anticipated the new game with a high, happy tail, anxiously waiting for her girlfriend to place the ball for the next go-round to see if she would snatch it or if Maya would make it disappear.
The pure and simple joy Maya brings Boo is inestimable. At the beginning of our journey I never imagined Boo would be able to experience this type of play with another dog.
My heart fills when I see them together, acting like a couple of little country girls roused by the wild abandon of summer, laughing, racing through the season’s soft, muted green woods, jumping winter-felled trees and ravines and splashing through streams.
Just – free.
Neither one ever tires of the games they play out, or, of one another’s magic. From the very core of my soul I thank you – beautiful, spellbinding enchantress, Divine Miss M.