THE RIDE (August 14, 2012)
Jozo Brandić has a wonderful story about a dog of his. Many years ago, it lived in the yard of his house. It never left the yard. One day Jozo got a letter from a veterinary service visiting his village saying that he was to bring his dog for some sort of vaccination at such and such a place and such and such a time. For the purpose, he got a collar and chain. The dog was not pleased at all, though. It was a pain dragging it all the way to the vet. Halfway there, Jozo saw some people he knew who had a carriage of some sort. He asked them for it, and they let him have it for a day or two. He put his dog on the carriage and pushed it all the way to the vet. The dog did not complain at all. Far from it. Propped up on its front legs, it enjoyed the ride. Jozo still remembers the dog’s unprecedented joy. As he tells his story, he puts his arms in front of him, and raises his head high. The dog comes alive over and over again.