GUARDIANS OF THE FRIGHTENED FAIR DAMSEL

My last three blogs have been pretty heavy weight so this time I thought I would share with you a lighter essay I wrote. I hope it will spread a little humor into your day. Perhaps, you have experienced something similar to this.

At our writers' group one of my fellow authors related a telephone conversation with her friend who recently went camping with her husband and their dog. She spoke about how both the husband and dog slept through two separate nights when a bear and then wild ponies wandered through their campsite. She then asked us to write about our impression of the event. As a result I wrote the following:

Hi, my name is Ginger. As you can tell I am of the female gender. For some reason, unknown to me, my mistress, thinks of me as her guardian. She oft' times thinks of herself as a frightened fair damsel in distress. I think of myself as a pacifist who would rather bark than bite. I do not buy into her image of me. This sometimes leads to her questioning my loyalty.

Let me illustrate: A short time ago we went on a camping trip, which I anticipated with great delight. During the day I ran about the campground enjoying the scenery, the scent of wild animals, the beautiful trees and meadow. It was fun to chase sticks thrown by my master. I had a very enjoyable, but tiring day. After dinner, I barked a while at the full moon. I then retired for a good night's rest. Having no fear of my fellow creatures I slept peacefully.

Toward the middle of the night I sensed that my mistress was feeling frightened. I lifted one ear and heard a noise outside. My keen sense of smell told me it was a bear. I also smelled some leftover food my mistress left out. Surely, the bear only wanted to eat it. He was not interested in confronting us. Realizing this I remained silent. Remember now, I am a barker not a biter! Using all of my energy I laid there pretending to be asleep. Had I done what came naturally, I would have begun barking loudly thus agitating the bear and putting frightened fair damsel into a confrontation with the bear.

And what did I get for protecting my mistress through my cloak of silence? She slanders me and says, "Ginger, slept through the night while I trembled in fear!"

The following night she still didn't understand my silence when I lay quietly with my eyes closed, while a herd of wild ponies wandered through our campsite. I could have jumped up and barked at them, possibly causing them to stampede through our tent.

She also fails to recognize how brave her husband, the real guardian of her life, truly is. Even in sleep he protects her. Perhaps she has a different perception of what male heroism is.

What I saw those two nights was a master, who even in repose, protected us from the wild beasts. Did my mistress not recognize his roaring snore? 'Twas like the sound of a dozen bull moose in heat. What else could have kept the bear and wild ponies from our tent?

Ah, brave master thank you for being our great guardian. How my heart yearns to please you! I may never know why you throw sticks for me to fetch, but out of loyalty to you I will always unquestioningly bring them back to you.

We ladies may never understand the minds of men, but I know, my master, even in sleep will guard me.

Perhaps someday we frightened fair damsels will learn to keep our mouths shut and wait patiently, while our male guardians protect us from the beasts that surround us.

Hugs, In Christ's and My Love,

Don E. Cunningham, Author 11-15-07© 532