April with Sir T
April 14, 2015
In Business
May 5, 2015
April with Sir T
April 14, 2015
In Business
May 5, 2015

Picture This

In the midst of the food court’s strutting teens and screeching toddlers, Sir Thomas folded onto his mat in that sphinx-like move that Danes do and gazed those soulful eyes at me. I instantly aimed my phone at that regal pose (he’d even crossed his front paws!). But instead of his handsome image appearing on my screen, a message popped up: “Cannot Take Photo.” Apparently there’s a limit to how many I can store on my phone. Namely, 2,990, according to the count at the top of the icon.

Smells of parenees_phonen-fried, deep-fried and stir-fried lunch surrounded us as I focused on getting that picture. I deleted 277 blurry selfies and inside-of-my-purse auto-shots. But the phone insisted I was still out of storage space.

Thomas let out a deep sigh, uncrossed his front legs and lowered his heavy head to rest between them. His message seemed clear: stop struggling to catch the perfect light on the subject and  place a hand on the subject himself. I stuffed the phone back into my purse and rubbed his ear.

Meanwhile, as I surrendered to the moment, shoppers, mall-walkers and store staffers had been capturing those moments. Cameras appeared from pockets and palms as people passed. Some grabbed candids as they shifted bags from arm to arm. Others stopped to aim before pressing the button. A few asked if they could take his picture. One elderly woman leaned in with a special request: Could my son scoot his chair out of the way so she could get a clear shot of the dog?

Watching this reminded me of traveling in lands where taking pictures is discouraged. The guidebooks recommended leaving cameras back in the hotel room. Each photograph steals a piece of a person’s soul, they explained.  Considering the language of photography – take, capture, frame, grab, catch, shoot – perhaps there is something to that belief.

Tommy’s picture has been taken, captured, and shot in airports, hotels, shops and restaurants by travelers from around the world. Apparently he doesn’t have a limit to his soul, because there’s still quite a bit thertomsoule. If pieces of him have been spread around the world, the world’s a better place. Here, then, take this one, too.

5 Comments

  1. Sir Thomas serves you faithfully, Renee and still has much spirit/soul to share with the universe….. We need Sir Thomas also
    Respectful Hugs to you both

  2. Carolyn Pandis says:

    Another lovely description of life with this special service dog. Thank you!

  3. Mike says:

    I’ve commented in the past and today is no exception. Your writing is beautiful. I wish you would email me back. I am a big fan with my own Dane, Ms. Iris S.D. I loved your thoughts on a business card and I had to make that happen. Our lives are easier because of you. Thanks for that. Mike.

    • Renee says:

      Hi Mike,
      Thank you for your kind words. You, too, chose a Dane over a cane (LOVE her name). I share stories of my journey with Sir T in the hopes that they may ease the way for others. I’m glad to know that they do. (Next up: Tommy Talk)
      Renee

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