Could a tale told so many times in so many different ways be only considered one tale? Or if, although the tale be similar, it occurred at a different time, could it still be the same? I have found that I am a being of habit, but not habit as in “I live a boring life and do the same thing every day” no, not that. I, habitually, always escape. I must do it, I have to. There is no other way to live! I have to have my freedom, and I will strive for it at all costs!

Now, there are times when I find it necessary, and important, to be where my leader wants me to be. I understand that she will protect me and ensure that I have food and everything I need. But, I still must run! I must explore! I must enjoy myself, otherwise I’ll go stark raving mad! If I get my chance to escape, I will take it, and there will be nothing to entice me to come back until I’m worn out and tired… except to get a rainbow treat… but even then, that only works sometimes. I’m not always particularly hungry.

Anyway, now that you know a little about me, this story, although no different from any story I could tell you about any day of my day to day life, starts with a car ride. My leader, on this day, allowed me to follow her outside and jump in the car, where we were going I wasn’t sure, but I knew it would be an adventure of some sort. The car ride itself was long, and I expressed to her how I absolutely hated it through my usual whining, but she never seems to care. I’m not worried about that though, because I’m always just happy that she actually takes me with her on some of her adventures. By the way! Why does she go on adventures without me?!?! Every day she leaves in that car of hers and is gone for hours and hours! Ugh! I tell her every day that I don’t want her to leave me, but she doesn’t listen to me then either…. you know, come to think of it, she rarely listens to me at all. Aw well.

Mmmmm! That car ride! All things I smelled! As we got closer, I knew where we were! I had smelled it before! But some of the scents were new! I was so excited, as soon as she opened the door I bolted! Funny thing, I actually ran the wrong way haha, but she called my name and I followed her. I always try to walk ahead of her. She’s so slow, you know, and I always hope she’s following me, but I always keep her in sight just in case she gets lost.

I knew this place! We had been there many many times. Being in that terribly hot car made me soooooo thirsty, I had to rush and get a drink. I ran down the rocks and rushed to the water. What’s weird about this place, is there’s always rain on just one spot of the sky! I always avoid it, I don’t much like rain. When she came down the hill, she removed her coverings and jumped in the water with me! I love it when she swims with me! I’ll swim right up to her and greet her and then climb out of the water. She’s an amazing swimmer, she can swim longer than I can. I always have to get out when I get tired, but I’m never too tired to smell the scents of the other beings that had been there for the past couple of days. That day, there were so many animals like me that had marked their territory, but I marked over their marks! Muahahahaha! Everything is mine! That’s what I always say haha!

When my leader got out of the water, she grabbed one of her layers and wrapped it around herself and sat. I knew she would be there a while so I climbed on some rocks above her in order to watch for her and slept a little bit. I swear I was dreaming about all the beings that had been to this place before me, and I was greeting them all! Oh my dreams are such adventures! I chase and run and climb! Oh my! It’s even better than my real life!

“Dozer!” I awoke with a start. ‘Ah, it’s probably time to go.’ I had thought. This was the exhausting part, I had to climb back up the hill after I had over exerted myself running all over the place. My leader takes a long time going back up as well, so I know I’ll be okay, and of course we always make it back to the car… and then I sleep in my seat.

Such a day is the same as many others. Some days I have my adventures without my leader, but I like it better when she comes with me. This is my life, and I love it! Thanks for listening, and, now, I’m gonna go for a run in the snow!!!!

*****