YOU CAN BE BRAVE

February, 2004

Wow! Something awesome happened today, human friends. It SNOWED! I did not know what it was at first and I barked at it. I don't bark a lot--apparently humans frown on it--but it just scared me when we opened the door this morning and there was lots of white stuff on the ground. And MORE falling from the sky! Mommy said it was snow and she left the door open so me and my cat cousins could watch it come down. It got pretty cold, though, and the cats wandered away after a while. I just stayed and watched it. It was so pretty!

Later on, when it stopped falling from the sky, Mommy said we could go out in it. I was so excited that I thumped my tail really hard and I even peed a little but Mommy wasn't mad. She put on my sweater while my human brother Allen went out the back door. We couldn't even open the front door, the SNOW was so deep! So Allen had to shovel out the walkway.

Mommy picked me up and carried me out. It was so cold and clear outside. The air smelled interesting, sort of like when I get a bath. Then Mommy put me down in the SNOW and I squealed! It was really COLD on my paws. But also soft, like my blanket. I gave it a lick and, guess what, it's really water! WOW! That was a surprise!

Mommy had on boots and when she stepped in the snow it sort of went "crunch!" and then she sank down into it. She called me to  come to her, but I was a little worried about it. I'm still a pretty small puppy and I was afraid I would sink into the snow and disappear from my Mommy and my Forever home. But Mommy came back and petted me and said I could be brave.

I didn't know if I could. The SNOW was very deep and I was very little, but I also thought it would be fun. Allen was making round balls from the snow and sliding down the hill and I really wanted to do it, too. So I stuck out one paw and felt the cold and heard the crunch. Then  stuck out another paw and I stood on TOP of the snow.

It was FUN! I ran to Mommy and left paw prints in the snow! She picked me up and laughed and I licked her face because  I had been SO BRAVE!!!

Here is what I want my human friends to know. It is  okay to be scared of something that is new. But if you know your people love you, you can still step out and be brave. It might turn out to be something really FUN!

Now, I love the snow. I played in it for a really long time, then Mommy and Allen and I went inside and Mommy wrapped me in a warm blanket. I fell asleep by the fire. It was a really good day.

So, don't forget to take a chance. Be brave! 

Love,

Taffy