I have been told I have an old soul and maybe I do. I like old music, classic movies and period food from the Victorian and other eras. It’s still on my bucket list to have that Christmas Goose with all the trimmings. One of my all-time favorite artists is Doo-wop and early Motown sensation Sam Cook. He had  a voice that was naturally smooth and powerful all without the modern aids of autotune and sound mixers.

One of my favorite Sam Cook songs is “Cupid”. Released in 1961, Cupid tells the story of a man asking Cupid, the Roman God of Love, to help him find a sweetheart. Now we all know that this is not the right way to build a relationship with someone, but it is a fun song to listen to, particularly around Valentine's Day.
One line of the song says, “Cupid, draw back your bow and let your arrow go, straight to my lovers’ heart for me”. Well, Cupid’s arrow has yet to land for me on another person, and it may not ever. But it sure has for my animals. I love my two cats, Peaches and Poirot, my duck Corona and of course my Chessie Gabe. I have said before that Gabe is my Spirit Animal and he proves it more and more each day.

One thing Gabe and I both love is the snow. Living in the South (the foothills of North Carolina), we don’t see snow that often. In fact, the last time we had snow was three years ago, when Gabe was just three months old. He enjoyed the snow then, but nothing could compare to his pure joy when white flakes started falling from the sky a few weeks ago.
Chessies are cold weather dogs. They have double coats (smooth underneath and curly on top) to help them stay warm as they retrieve ducks out of the Chesapeake Bay during the winter months. Their strong chests are designed to break through thick layers of ice so they can go swimming in even the coldest temperatures.

All these traits were on full display during the recent cold spell and snow storm in North Carolina. Gabe would break the ice in his water bowl with his paw, roll around in the snow and chase a frisbee for what felt like hours. I have never seen him happier. He was in his natural habitat, fulfilling what he was created to do. When it was time for me to come in, I invited Gabe to follow, but he did not want to. He wanted to stay out in the snow.
Gabe normally sleeps outside at night, but with temperatures in the teens, we offered him a space inside and he would come in for some petting and of course a few Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats. After a few minutes though, he was ready to go back out in the cold. Don’t worry, when Gabe was ready to go to bed, he went  into the heated garage and curled up with his best furry Frenemy Peaches to keep warm. (They like each other most of the time except when I am outside and Gabe does not want to share any of my attention).

For those few days of wintery weather, it was as if Cupid had drawn back his bow and given Gabe the perfect love story. With climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, who knows when he will get another chance. He also gets to enjoy Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats, and other things he loves every day. For me though, I don’t need Cupid’s help to do the things I love. I love my writing. as I have a passion for telling other people’s stories or telling ones of my own. I love my pets and the joy they bring. They show affection for me without caring if I have a disability or not. In general, I love life and try to live it to the fullest every day.
Do I wish a few things were different? Of course. I sometimes wish I had a significant other to share experiences with, both good and bad, but that has not happened yet. Maybe one day it will. One of my friends recently asked me if I had plans for Valentine’s Day? Yes, I plan on spending it with Gabe and based on past experiences, he will have plenty of hugs and kisses to share. Cupid can keep his arrow in the quiver for now.