On smiling

—“You’re smiling,” I said to my cute little 19-year-old contact at the kennel that daycares my dog.
Eyes flashing she smiled even more; she was lighting up the entire neighborhood.
This wasn’t supposed to happen: convinced at an early age I was unworthy.
“I’m happy your dog seems better,” she smiled.
“Is this just a sell-job?” I’d ask myself; “smile and make the customers wanna come back?”
If so it sure does work.
How can I switch kennels and leave behind that smile?
“You better stop smiling,” I thought to myself.
“Your dog seemed spunkier, not the utterly whacked out dog we had the other night.
“I sure hope your boyfriend does this,” I’d say = “tell you you’re attractive.
Marry someone and flirting goes away.
I had to lose my wife to see that. BEST friend I ever had; she liked me from the get-go.
Make ‘em feel valued; they eat it up.
I’m hardly Adonis: 76 years old, outta shape, and slightly obese. I walk like a little-old-man.
Yet here’s this little cutie smiling at me; something I thought I’d never see.
So go ahead — infer they’re cute.
Let ‘em know you enjoy their company.
It’ll make everyone happy, including yourself.
I wish I done that with my wife.

• My dog is currently crippled — he has a torn ACL. He can’t walk on all four feet. I left him at this kennel while I photographed trains with my brother down in Altoona (PA). —While away his leg became infected, but we reduced that. Otherwise he may have to be put down, but hopefully not right away. We may have to amputate one rear leg.