Remembering Coty

In 1990 when I was still working, and when we still had our Great Dog Coty

I'd take him to Dog Beach for a run on weekend mornings and during

holidays.  Saturday, December, 1990, was a holiday.

ALL ROADS LEAD AWAY TO DOG BEACH

In the San Diego River this morning the sea lion headed upstream.

I thought at first it was just another dog chasing a tennis ball,

but there is was surfacing and diving and surfacing again

apparenty unpreturbed by all the shouting people and barking dogs.

The sight of that beautiful creature on its way from somewhere

and just as obviously and purposefully on its way to somewhere else

made all the Gypsy blood in my body sing and the soles of my feet itch.

There I was just walking my dog around in great circles by the sea

when the highways of the world were leading directly to where I was

and all the roads and trails that go anywhere begin right there

on the parking lot at a place called Dog Beach in San Diego, California.

Saturday, December 29, 1990