The Song of the Sirens

Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple wavers to the dust.

~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman Emperor (and co-Emperor for eight years), the last of the Five Good Emperors, and considered one of the most important Stoic Philosophers, AD 161 – AD 180

Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.

~~ Pythagoras, Ionian Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism, 570 BC – 495 BC

HEALTH UPDATE: All of your well wishes, crossed paws, and kind words and thoughts are working! I am doing and feeling much better. The medicines have helped with my balance issues and my arthritis, so I am walking more and walking better. I am still coughing but not nearly as much, and my energy level has slightly improved. Thank you all very much! I could not have progressed this far without you!

The heatwave had broken from days of 100+ degrees Fahrenheit to days of 90+ degrees Fahrenheit. While still hot for an Alpha Male Malamute such as myself, I was claustrophobic from spending all Summer in the house. It was time to head back outdoors. Despite my human’s (K) best attempts to keep me inside, I would have none of it. Outdoors is where I belong (I also belong where there is snow, but that is another story). Anywoofs, the air was hot, the sun was shining, and I was calmly lying in the backyard in the shade. Then I heard it: faint singing, enchanting music, sweet voices. As if being pulled, I followed the singing and ended up in the dry bed of the creek. I feel asleep to the song of the Sirens.

Eagle-eyed K found me. She saw me from the bridge. Do you see me?

It's about time! Get me out of here.

I awoke to K calling my name. I had been in the creek for hours! And yes, I was stuck. K was baffled by my inability to get myself out, but she assumed it was due to the high steep sides along the creek and my arthritic back legs. So began the routine of K sliding down the side into the creek, leashing me, climbing back up the side, and then pulling me out of the creek. After that ordeal came the long walk home. We had to walk back home the long way, across the bridge, because the only place K could enter, and have us exit, was from the street side of the creek rather than the yard side. It was during these walks back home that I would collapse and remain motionless for quite a few minutes. It was very frightening to both K and I. What had those Sirens done to me?

Hey, K, did you hear the Sirens, too? [You can see the bridge in the upper left corner of the picture.]

Silvius, I hope you waxed up your ears.

Why should he have all the fun?

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Triumph of Neptune, Roman mosaic, pavement from a house in Sousse (ancient Hadrumetum), Tunisia, circa middle 3rd Century AD (Musée Archéologique de Sousse, Tunisia)

Poseidon, sculpture at Københavns Havn, guards the gates from the harbor to the Queen's Palace (Copenhagen, Denmark) [I cannot locate any information on the artist or year. If you know, please let me know. Thank you!]

Back to me...

Repeat this scenario for the next two weeks. K was getting exasperated by the situation but she did not want to leash me due to my illness. K knew the effort to get me out of the creek, and then the walk home, was very stressful for me and she feared that the next collapse may be my last, so she repeatedly told me that I was not to go back into the creek. But the Sirens continued to sing and I continued to heed their call.

Yes, back again. It's not my fault! They lured me with their voices.

Can you see me now?

I am defenseless against the Sirens.

O.K., I am ready to be pulled out of here. Let's go home! [This is the spot where K pulls me out of the creek.]

Then one day the songs stopped. It was the day after K got me out of the creek as the sky darkened by an approaching storm and thunder echoed all around. The next few days were quiet, and I stayed away from the creek. The songs had stopped and I wondered if the storm had carried the Sirens away. I finally went back to the creek two more times to investigate. I heard and found nothing. However, to K’s happy surprise, and to my shock, I was able to get out of the creek both times on my own. No more enchanting Sirens to trap me in the creek.

Can you see me now? Cow dung (aka poop!) here I come!

From the irresistible sound of the Sirens to the irresistible smell of cow pies (aka poop)! The bulls are back across the street and my nose smells something sweet to eat. Good-bye creek, hello field of dung! I’m just sayin’…