Not a Facebook “like”

—“How come always Lehigh Valley RailTrail,” people ask;” instead of Boughton Park, which is nearer?”
“Two reasons,” I say:
—A) “That’s where Killian’s ashes are.”
and —B) “Lotsa pretty ladies.”
“Here she comes!” the little voice says.
“DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
Say something to her! Don’t be afraid. You’ve done it before.”
“Your dog looks old,” I say.
“Ten years old,” she says.
“You keep going that way,” I say; “and you’ll pass my dog’s ashes.”
“Awwwww…….”
“Cancer always wins,” I say. “Lost him four months ago.”
“Lost my husband to cancer,” she says; “ten years ago.”
“My wife too,” I say. “Almost nine years for me.”
Yack-yack-yakkity-yack; 5-10 minutes of pleasant bantering: battin’ emotions back-and-forth.
Proof yet again that striking up a conversation is always worth it — especially with a lady.
“Another bereaver,” I think myself. “It ain’t easy,” I whispered to her.
“Ya gonna get another dog?” she asked.
“Don’t know as I should,” I said. “I’m almost 77.”
“Get an older dog,” she says. “No puppies!”
“It’s not flirting,” a friend tells me.
“But if I strike up a conversation,” I’d say to that friend; “it tells that girl I was attracted enough by her to strike up a conversation.
Which she likes, then I like that she likes it, then she likes that, and we end up liking each other = striking sparks.
I’ve had it happen!

• “Killian,” a “rescue Irish-Setter,” was my most recent dog. He made age-11, and was my seventh Irish-Setter, an extremely lively dog. A “rescue Irish-Setter” is usually an Irish-Setter rescued from a bad home; e.g. abusive or a puppy-mill. Or perhaps its owner died. (Killian was a divorce victim.) By getting a rescue-dog I avoid puppydom, but the dog is often messed up. —Killian was fine. He was my fifth rescue.