It has been a while and I am derelict in not writing sooner of the death that is visiting us all over the world. In particular, in the United States, it is particularly devastating here in New Jersey. Here, one finds so many beautiful, precious borzoi at places such as Majenkir Borzoi in Swartswood and those that previously lived here at Blyss Kennels in Mountainside that could be found running in play throughout the Watchung Reservation, borzoi with names like Paris and Opal, and Mikhailya and Casanova. Still, as of the Westminster KC dog show in February, which had three Mikhailya progeny in the ring, every dog show has been or will be canceled. But worst of all, we must all stay home and stay home alone, in quarantine. It is with tears that I contemplate these realities.
I feel like I must be a dog of past times trying to enter England. But no, I am in the USA and I never left home. I am in quarantine. I just cannot go out anywhere safely. To be safe, I must stay home and be alone. However, walking around town is allowed if safe social distancing of six feet is maintained. With so much time on my hands and because I am so good at procrastinating leaving my lawn not mowed and my flower beds not weeded, tonight I have decided to write on my blog at Blysskennels.us
What is it that I see on my walks?
It began in mid March and now it is early April.
No one knows when it will end. It could be a very long time from now.
Although it remains cold and windy from winter,
There are splashes of color: yellows and pinks, from flowering bushes and trees, breaking through.
I contemplate them, having seen only grey, dark branches for so long that appeared to be dead.
It was an illusion, I thought, that this was a death of the flora, on the shrubs, on the flowering trees, and especially, on the mountain.
Do I see a tiny splash of green there? I am not sure….. But I know it will be there soon,
And then the green will be dotted with white Dogwood blossoms although not nearly so many as in years previous, before they were afflicted with their own virus.
We live in the day of viruses, and all we can do is take walks.
Walk them off, walk them away,
walk them until we tire, walk them until we die.
Walk them with our children, walk them with our dogs,
walk them with our friends, with our fathers, with our mothers and with our lovers.
Remember to say hello and to admire your neighbor’s dog even if it is a rescue and yours is bred true.
How can there be so many places to walk to and so many places to walk from,
And learn so many people’s stories
For each and every one has one, a story that is, that is not about the virus that always lurks behind us now
But about themselves after the virus goes away.
These days, I walk with a Silken Windhound, Gr Ch Wind ‘n Satin It’s My Party, Kensey. She could not be more wonderful or perfect a companion. She is up for every walk I want to take her on, either on the winding, hilly roads of Mountainside or the hiking trails of Watchung Reservation. She has a way of transcending her little body and cuteness as if to reach out to all whom she sees and often times elicits and glowing accolade of complements and praises. Some people have even asked me if she is a Borzoi!!! She truly is my companion and Guardian Angel.