I blame the quarantine, that I have become obsessed with these little dogs. Under a shield of mountains and sun, at the end of a bumpy road in Mexico, I spend my days hiding on my computer and watching them grow. They are seven, because two died, and all have different personalities. The smallest one likes to bark and start wrestling matches, one is lazy and just wants food, the others fall in a spectrum of troublemakers and snorers who will soon be running around like real dogs, but still blissfully unaware of all that’s happened.
I blame the quarantine that I am looking at things more closely, that time (now more than ever) has slowed to a halt, with the only thing that moves us being the wind. Days go on in a circle like the sun, with shadows falling and trees dipping in the weather. The puppies eat, I clean their dish. The puppies pee, I wipe it up. This book I’m reading has said it’s important to keep the nest clean. Which is mostly the mother’s job, but heck she’s got seven kids. I’d be feeling exhausted too.
I know they’d be fine without me, but would I without them? I love the way they see the world, all big hands and feet, loud noises and sunshine. It’s really that simple. Just the here and now, and nothing else. I blame the quarantine, but to be honest, I would have fallen in love with them either way.
–Larissa Runkle, I’m currently holed up in Hidalgo, Mexico with my partner and two other friends. We arrived months ago to do some climbing and then the owner of the hotel was kind enough to let us stay during quarantine