The plan was prettier than the weather
I put a raincoat on the dog, took an umbrella for myself and imagined a picturesque wet-street walk. One minute later the wind turned my umbrella inside out. The Italian Greyhound looked at it like an expert who had known all along.
We chose a shorter route
We came home earlier than planned. I dried paws, hung the wet coat and heard a sigh from beneath the blanket. There is nothing heroic to photograph. There is a useful habit: noticing when it is time to change the plan.
There was a photograph after all
At home I found an accidental picture on my phone: my wet sleeve, a piece of lead and a dog’s nose at the very edge. No waterfront, no beautiful droplet on fur. But it was accurate: this was our walk today.
I sent it to a friend with the caption “autumn collection.” He asked where the dog was. I had to point out the nose. The dog was asleep by then and took no part in discussing her own publicity.
I left the umbrella to dry in the bathroom. I spread the raincoat separately, checking collar and cuffs, and put the towel by the door for the next outing. For the first time that day, everything was where it belonged.
The practical part of this invented walk is the ending: remove the wet layer, dry the dog gently and let the clothes dry properly. A photograph is optional. A walk has no obligation to prove to followers that our life is beautiful.
Useful? Save it for your next walk.