Five Zippers

When you have a Jack Russell terrier for a pet, nothing is business as usual. Daisy is so smart and high-strung that she witnesses everything I do and plans ahead, as in, she’s going to open the door soon, so I will be ready to escape.

Or, she’s coming in the front door now, so I am ready to escape and go kill a rat.

Or, she’s packing for the beach. I am ready for a car ride.

Yesterday, she perked her ears up when she heard the first zipper get zipped. She was on my bed, her usual after-breakfast spot, when I put my mouthguard into its little bag and zipped it up, then put it in my suitcase. God forbid that I would forget my mouth guard!

The next zipper she heard was after my shower. I applied make-up, then put it all in my make-up bag and zipped it up. Daisy was now on the ground, standing next to me.

After my Zoom Zumba class with Yuko and a bunch of Asian women, and after everyone had said Arigato to one another (I said thank you), I put food in a cold bag and then, you guessed it, zipped it up. Now Daisy was alert and ready to run out the front door and dive into the pillows in the backseat of my car. She’s a nervous traveler but feels somewhat more relaxed in a pile of pillows and beach towels.

I wasn’t quite ready. I’d already watered the front yard, so I stepped into the back yard and checked the fountain to make sure it was unclogged, watered the many plants on the shady north side of the house, moved some wooden things (it had rained a bit) and topped off the bird baths.

Then back inside, I turned off the laptop and zipped up the laptop bag. She was by the door, her tail up, her stance rigid.

Then the suitcase in the bedroom got a zip, and the barking began. Daisy knew what came next. I’d have to wrestle her into the Thunder Shirt and harness. I slipped the choke chain over Pepper’s neck while she waited patiently by the door.

I got the Thunder Shirt over Daisy’s head on the second try. Eight years in (plus Prozac) has mellowed her out. In the beginning I’d be swearing and counting and she’d be flailing around in my lap, resisting the shirt. It’s tight, and it snuggles her as she is wrapped like a burrito.

Then I clipped on the leash because there are two little boys next door who are afraid, although one of them should be in school. I opened the back door and Daisy jumped into the pillows and got settled in, after bouncing around the entire car first.

Pepper hupped up with the last load. I was exhausted, and we hadn’t even left the driveway. But we were loaded up, ready to go. Keys, wallet, phone, glasses, I turned on the engine and we glided down the driveway, off on our beach adventure.