DISTRACTIONS

For some reason most modern offices have the employees shut away. One sits there from 4 to 6 consecutive hours under artificial light, without birdsong or a gust of breeze, sharing germs that float around in the air conditioning. I am actually luckier than many because my desk is beside a part of plate glass; I won’t call it a window, it can’t be opened, but I can at least see outside.

The building beside us is a warehouse, and my view is of the huge, paved lot behind it. There’s a high wire fence and gate between the warehouse and the lot, then behind the lot again is an undeveloped property with tall weeds and a few trees. I believe it is owned by the City, this belief reinforced by the activity that goes on there. On any given day there will be a fire truck or police cars on site and I can watch drivers practice racing around strategically placed cones, both forward and reverse, or spinning donuts, starting and stopping on a dime. Once an ambulance pulled in and the paramedics spent a few hours running back and forth with equipment, all under the careful eye of a supervisor who would halt them on occasion to show them how to pick something up or how to hold it while on the move. It’s a welcome distraction, and I have to be careful not to spend too much time looking instead of working. The event there this past week had me throw caution to the winds, and I can add that I wasn’t the only one who stood up to gaze at what was going on.

The police cars arrived first, then a van drove in to join them. I guessed what was going to happen before the driver opened his back door – I have seen this type of van before – and sure enough out jumped a beautiful German shepherd. While the officers watched, the trainer put the dog through his paces. The animal was a magnificent specimen of his breed, and he responded to his commands swiftly and perfectly. It was awesome, and I was so proud of that doggie! It was obvious that his trainer felt the same, and that the policemen were impressed, as was the accounting team who had gathered around me for the show. Fortunately it only lasted for 30 minutes or so; it’s difficult to punch numbers into a computer with one eye on other things. If the boss made a snide comment about the incident, I didn’t hear it. I was too busy SMILING.

Sending it out to y’all – it may have a bit of fur attached.

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.