fats domino liked walking too

One day I was walking in the Everett Woods back in my hometown with my friend Donnie Sisson. We could begin walking into the woods right out from the end of the backyard of his family’s house. Wild guess – 1962. Along with us that day was my dog Taffy.

I can’t remember if there was a particular destination or it was just walking, the woods, a friend. Somehow that day we strayed away from the paths we knew and became lost. Really lost. Two scared kids. The autumn sun falling, clear about its journey west. Taffy never got scared. Running ahead and then back, tail-wagging bouncing. Thrilled being out in the wild, out in the day with someone she loved and knew love from.

At one point she disappeared through a stand of branches and brambles and the kind of thick woodsy scene you can picture. When I chased after her to keep her safe I pushed through out onto the main fire road, and a way we knew home.

Before sharing this story I had the thought of how cool it would be to be at a dance where there were only ladies choices.

Here’s the saving pooch with a younger-than-that-day me. (photo Win Cushman)